Today, we spoke to Eric, our Social Services Program Director, who shared what brought him to Oasis and the things that bring him joy, even as his work is often heavy. Through the challenges and rewards of his journey, he shares with us his vision for the future.

Oasis was founded in 2017 to be a sanctuary for queer and trans immigrants. Fear of deportation, uncertainty around evolving immigration policies, rising xenophobia and nationalism, homophobic and transphobic violence have put our clients in harm’s way. In the face of adversity, our team has always stepped in to support LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Today, we acknowledge that there exists a collective grief but refuse to let it immobilize us.

We will not stop building bridges.

Our shared vision propels us forward.

Today, we're spotlighting Julia Mejia-Moreno, one of Oasis’ Asylum Legal Advocates, whose own connection to the immigrant experience drives her to support LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. We’re thrilled to have Julia on our team and grateful for the passion and heart she brings to Oasis each day.

Today, the Ninth Circuit largely affirmed a lower court decision that held unlawful the government’s systematic turnbacks – or “metering” – of people seeking asylum at ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border. The court’s decision sends a clear message: it’s time for humane and respectful treatment for all those seeking safety at our borders. While this ruling is positive, we know that under the Biden administration, the government’s turnback practices have evolved and expanded. Read more about the implications of this decision.

Pro Bono Week is an opportunity to express our deep gratitude to the firms and attorneys who help us expand our capacity to serve the LGBTQ+ immigrant community. As one of the few organizations providing accessible legal services to queer and trans immigrants, we rely on our incredible network of pro bono partners who share their time, expertise, and passion for queer and trans immigrant justice.

At Oasis, our Asylum Program plays a crucial role in providing legal support to LGBTQ+ immigrants navigating the complexities of the U.S. asylum process. Leading this program is one of Oasis’ founders, Maria Elena Paniagua (Mari), whose dedication to both her clients and her team drives the success of our biggest legal program. In this blog, we explore the challenges and rewards of her role, as well as the personal passions that keep her grounded and inspired.

In this interview, we delve into our Asylum Legal Advocate, Anuar's personal and professional journey—what drives him, the challenges and successes he’s encountered, and the joy he finds in woodworking and his favorite Portuguese songs. Through his story, we gain a deeper understanding of the profound impact that lived experience can have on advocacy and the importance of humanizing the asylum process.

This blog post reviews some common support needs of transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) newcomers and discusses how you can be an affirming provider. It addresses client needs related to health, welcoming, and social services, and provides detailed information on legal concerns. This blog was informed by the experiences and contributions of Ari Jones, Oasis' Residency & Naturalization Programs Director; Abby Davies and Jamie Sgarro from InReach; Max Niedzwiecki of the Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Rainbow Initiative; Anita Fábos of Clark University; and Craig Mortley of the University of Connecticut School of Social Work.

As a result of the current immigration climate and displacement of people around the world, immigration providers in California are unable to keep up with the demand for legal services. For providers who serve LGBTQ+ clients, capacity is further stretched. We are happy to introduce Celia Meredith, our new Asylum Legal Fellow! Celia will expand our ability to support LGBTQ+ asylum seekers who qualify for affirmative asylum and have a need for immediate representation.

Navigating a new country can be challenging for anyone, but for LGBTQ+ newcomers, the journey often comes with unique complexities. This blog post addresses key legal concerns for LGBTQ+ newcomers. It covers topics such as confidentiality, document updates, and referral strategies to help service providers better support LGBTQ+ clients. 

Oasis has a close relationship with the community we serve because our staff largely reflects the identities of our clients—LGBTQ+ individuals who come from immigrant families, or who are immigrants themselves. Our Executive Director, Adam Ryan Chang, is no exception. In this interview, Adam dives deep into the experiences that shaped him and his passion as he leads Oasis on the quest to bring light into our clients’ lives, the same way Adam found his.

Mahlieli is Oasis’ 2024 Legal Services Funders Network (LSFN)* Legal Fellow. She supports our mission to provide trauma-informed immigration and social services to the LGBTQ+ community. At Oasis she is dedicated to providing legal assistance to immigrants and underserved communities, aiming to protect their rights and ensure fair access to justice. Learn more about Mahlieli and the LSFN Fellowship.

On October 19th, 2024, Oasis will have our 7th Annual Community Celebration at The New Parkway Theater in Oakland. Our biggest fundraising event of the year, this gathering offers an opportunity to come together to honor the journeys of our clients and celebrate the supporters that make our work possible. This year, in the spirit of true community, we’re also making the event free to ensure it’s accessible to everyone who wants to support and celebrate with us. It would mean a lot to have you join us in celebration! You can RSVP for free.

Meet Oliver, our 2024 Dream SF Fellow. The DreamSF Fellowship is a San Francisco-based leadership and professional development program for immigrant students and aspiring professionals who seek to gain real-world experience with social justice change-makers in the Bay Area. We are excited to host Oliver for 11 months and support his professional development while he helps our clients obtain permanent safety in the United States.

A new report has been released detailing the egregious due process and human rights violations at the U.S.-Mexico border during the first six weeks of the Biden administration’s asylum ban and Interim Final Rule (IFR). Some of these violations include people being deported without an initial asylum screening, major barriers to accessing legal aid while in detention, increased challenges to entering the U.S. for asylum seekers with urgent safety and medical needs, and more. A lawsuit has been filed by immigrant rights organizations challenging the new asylum ban, because it closely mirrors the asylum ban that the Trump administration imposed in 2018. But for the time being, the asylum ban remains in action until the lawsuit is resolved.

As a mother of a trans woman, Ortencia was drawn to Oasis because of our mission supporting LGBTQ+ immigrants, and the fact that social services navigation is integrated into our trauma-informed process.

Every year, law students have the opportunity to intern with Oasis during the summer, fall, and spring semesters. They work directly with our clients under attorney supervision to help prepare asylum and other affirmative immigration cases, declarations and affidavits, and represent clients at their asylum interviews before USCIS. Our current Law Student Interns are Mars B., Michele Canny, Chase Morgan, and Thomas McDowell.

In the U.S., there is a prison population of nearly 1.9 million, with an alarming 2.5 to 5 percent believed to be wrongfully incarcerated. This translates to around 47,500 to 95,000 innocent individuals whose lives are disrupted, each losing irreplaceable time, family, and freedom. Among the most vulnerable to wrongful convictions are LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants, who face unique challenges exacerbated by prejudice and systemic biases. Read more about the systemic flaws and biases contributing to wrongful convictions and the ongoing fight for justice in this blog written by our law student intern, Michele Canny.

Oasis, in partnership with Immigration Equality, filed a comment on July 8, 2024, against Biden’s newest asylum ban or Interim Final Rule (“IFR” or “Rule”). Detailing accounts of our clients’ lives in their countries or origin, our comment highlights how dangerous this rule will be for asylum seekers who are LGBTQ+ and may be living with HIV (LGBTQ/H).

This year, our Central Valley clients took the lead in organizing and directing Oasis’ participation in the Fresno Pride Parade. With support from our Fresno team, clients came together to brainstorm themes, select music, and design a parade experience that truly represented their identities and shared experiences. The result was nothing short of extraordinary. While the Central Valley has historically been a conservative region, our clients’ leadership and bravery continue to transform hearts and minds in a powerful celebration of community and pride.

We are looking for leaders who have the capacity to join our dynamic Board of Directors! As our clients have intersecting identities, and as our service model incorporates best practices from both legal and social services, we welcome diverse candidates to apply to join our Board. This is an opportunity to apply your existing skills and expertise to benefit LGBTQ+ immigrants and to work collaboratively as you learn from, and with, Oasis’ Board of Directors and Executive Director.

Hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers, including those from LGBTQ/H communities, are detained annually in U.S. immigration detention centers operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These detention centers are notorious for their inhumane treatment of detainees. LGBTQ/H people face particularly severe abuse including high incidences of physical and sexual violence, prolonged solitary confinement, and inadequate medical care, among other systemic abuses.

Numerous studies have shown that the undocumented status of LGBTQ+ immigrant parents increases significant negative outcomes for their children–from physical and mental health, to education, and more. Oasis Legal Services provides critical legal and wraparound support services to ensure LGBTQ+ parents can create family stability without fear of deportation, and access vital support services to ensure their family’s wellbeing.

We are happy to announce that Oasis has embarked on a very exciting new collaboration with The Rainbow Initiative of the Episcopal Migration Ministries, which works closely with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the federal agency that funds initiatives supporting refugees. Partnerships like the one between Oasis and The Rainbow Initiative are necessary to bring awareness to and lead advocacy for LGBTQ+ immigrants.

Oasis hosts undergraduate paralegal interns during fall and spring semesters. Paralegal interns work directly with our clients under legal representative supervision to help prepare asylum applications. They also assist our staff, law student interns and pro bono representatives as interpreters. Meet our current Paralegal Interns, Monica Diaz, Grady De Paz, and Fatima Campos.

Yesterday, President Biden unleashed two assaults on the human right to apply for asylum: (1) a Presidential Proclamation that immediately suspends the right to apply for asylum for people at the Southern border who do not enter the U.S. at a port of entry, and (2) an interim final rule that seeks to make this suspension procedure permanent. Under the proclamation, the Southern border is in effect now closed to asylum seekers. Oasis is appalled by these new restrictions on asylum, which will affect queer and trans asylum seekers of color disproportionately.

Asylum Legal Advocate Anuar Arriaga Esquivel talks about his experience with learning Portuguese. From language immersion to representing a Portuguese-speaking client at an asylum interview, Anuar shares his own journey with Portuguese and Brazilian culture and the role it plays in his personal and professional life. This journey not only tested his language skills but also deepened my connections and broadened his perspective on the power of language and community.

Despite their contributions to the United States, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities continue to face systemic discrimination and racism. Learn about the significant achievements of AAPI communities through data from the “U.S. Immigration Policy Center” and the “National Partnership for New Americans”, and the critical importance of ongoing advocacy and support beyond AAPI Heritage Month.

What does $10 mean to you? To LGBTQ+ immigrants, it means the world. Give OUT Day provides an opportunity to engage in the transformative power of collective giving. Donate to Oasis this month and help us provide life-saving services to our clients. Transform lives with just $10 and support queer and trans immigrants.

To celebrate our two-year anniversary in Fresno, we hosted our first-ever Community Open House fundraiser at the historic Tower Theatre Lounge on Thursday, April 11. The intention was to gather with our friends and allies (old and new!) and showcase everything that we have accomplished in Fresno so far, and explore what we can still achieve together in the years to come. Our team was moved to witness the Central Valley community show up and engage in discussions with folks who offered partnerships, ideas, and resources in support of our work to protect queer and trans immigrants.