Join us at our 6th Annual Community Celebration as we honor our clients’ journeys through asylum and beyond, celebrate the supporters that have helped us to build a safe haven for LGBTQ+ immigrants, and discuss what the Oasis community has in store. Early Bird tickets are on sale now for $150 - take advantage of this discounted pricing today! Starting August 22, individual tickets will be $200 per attendee.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative Program was created with the intention to increase access to the legal profession for those from non-traditional legal backgrounds and provide more inclusive legal representation as a result. Oasis currently has five Accredited Representatives supporting our clients — four in Berkeley, and one in the Central Valley. A recent convening of DOJ reps from Oasis and organizations throughout the Bay Area offered a chance to reflect on this program and its impact on the community.

Asylum seekers already face abuse and exploitation when escaping their home countries and this new rule increases structural barriers to the asylum protections guaranteed to them under long-standing US and international law. This rule converts asylum into a privilege for the wealthy and makes it unattainable for the communities that Oasis serves – LGBTQ+, Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income members of the community.

Asylum Legal Advocate and DOJ Accredited Representative, Anuar Arriaga Esquivel, represented Oasis on an advocacy trip to the state capital in Sacramento. Oasis Legal Services joined the California Welcomes Coalition and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) to advocate for various proposed bills that benefit the well-being of immigrants. Anuar reflects on the trip, and his journey from undocumented to advocate.

As we enter Oasis' sixth year of existence, we hope you join us as we look back on the past year, celebrate our clients' journeys, and reflect on our team's successes through the 2022 Impact Report. Click below to read on about the work that you made possible!

Oasis Legal Services (Oasis) represented a client in a pre-litigation settlement with nationwide chain restaurant Shake Shack, resolving our client’s complaint of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on gender identity, gender expression, and transgender status. Shake Shack will pay the former employee, an Oasis client, $20,000 and update its policies relating to retaliation, harassment, discrimination, and bullying.

Oasis is thrilled to announce the opening of our new office in California’s Central Valley, providing vital, culturally sensitive legal immigration services to underserved LGBTQ+ immigrants. Our office will offer much-needed direct legal representation and outreach to queer and trans immigrants in rural parts of California, as well as training for service providers.

In a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Oasis client Jack* challenges the prolonged delays in renewing his work authorization, leading to the loss of his job, driver's license, and health insurance. Facing an almost seven-month wait for renewal, Jack's struggle sheds light on the urgent need for a nationwide injunction to address the backlog and prevent further hardships for asylum seekers. In this blog post, we highlight the systemic issue of USCIS failing to timely renew work authorizations for asylum seekers, jeopardizing their employment and well-being.

Oasis Legal Services (Oasis) along with other LGBTQ+ immigrant rights organizations challenges a new rule that has dismantled asylum protections.“The new asylum regulation destroys this country’s long-standing commitment to the humanitarian protection of asylum and potentially bars many, if not most, LGBTQ+ asylum seekers fleeing violence, homophobia and death from protection,” says Oasis Legal Services’ Executive Director, Caroline Roberts.

Judge Paula Xinis of the District Court of Maryland has issued a preliminary injunction in CASA de Maryland v. Wolf, halting provisions of new immigration rules that limit asylum seekers' work authorization. This relief benefits hundreds of asylum seekers. Despite this victory, many asylum seekers, including Oasis clients, remain affected by these restrictive rules. Read more about the case and its implications.

Yesterday, Oasis joined other immigrant advocacy organizations to file a federal lawsuit. This action aims to stop the U.S. government from implementing new rules that would drastically limit the ability of asylum seekers to work legally in the country. The proposed changes threaten the livelihoods and well-being of countless individuals seeking refuge. By restricting access to work authorization, the new rules would force asylum seekers into precarious situations, unable to support themselves while they await a decision on their cases. #LetAsylumSeekersWork

On July 15th, Oasis submitted our formal comment to the federal government detailing how the proposed rules dismantling the current asylum system would endanger the lives of LGBTQ+ immigrants from around the world. These changes pose a direct threat to those who are already among the most vulnerable, potentially forcing them back to countries where they face persecution, violence, and even death. More than 900 community members have signed onto a letter that will be sent to Congress urging them to #SaveAsylum

One of our clients has joined forces with other immigrants and nonprofits to sue the Trump administration for violating the law with new public-charge restrictions. We stand firmly with our clients and support them in their rights as they navigate justice. Read more about our client’s lawsuit.

Meet our 2020 Summer Interns! We are so fortunate and truly grateful to have been chosen by another amazing group of law students who help us with our work and support our clients.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Oasis is committed to supporting undocumented LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers, who are disproportionately affected. Our team has transitioned to remote work to continue delivering essential immigration services and holistic case management. We appreciate your support while we figure out the best ways to continue ensuring our clients have a chance to apply for asylum and remain safely in this country.

In recognition of Oasis Legal Services’ life-saving work and advocacy for LGBTQ+ immigrants seeking asylum, ACLU’s NorCal Paul Robeson Chapter awarded us the Grover Dye Civil Liberties Activism Award. The Paul Robeson Chapter annually presents this award to organizations like Oasis, whose work exhibits the values of equity and inclusion that civil rights activist Grover C. Dye Sr. championed throughout his life.

On September 11, 2019, the Supreme Court determined that the Asylum Ban 2.0 (AKA the “safe third country” rule) would be enforced nationwide (a lawsuit over the legality of the rule is still winding through the lower courts). This means that asylum seekers who entered the country on or after July 16, 2019, now have to show that they applied for asylum in countries they traveled through before they can apply for asylum in the United States. Seeking asylum in Mexico is not an option for LGBTQ+ refugees. We stand against the new ban and will continue to advocate for asylum seekers.

Introducing our new legal resource portal: a vital platform offering comprehensive support for legal advocates and professionals dedicated to serving LGBTQ+ immigrants. Access a wealth of resources and expertise to navigate the landscape of LGBTQ+ immigration law through templates, guides, and information curated by our very own legal advocates and pro bono attorneys.