Oasis Opens Central Valley Office
We are excited to announce that Oasis is opening a new office in the heart of California’s Central Valley, providing much-needed, culturally sensitive legal immigration representation to the area’s underserved LGBTQ+ immigrants. Our Fresno office will provide an essential space for this population and increase access to life-changing services.
Because partnerships are at the core of our holistic service model, bilingual staff will be located inside the Fresno EOC Sanctuary LGBTQ+ Resource Center and will work closely with California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) as well as immigrant organizations and local service providers in Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto, Stockton and other rural areas in the Central Valley.
Our staff will provide direct legal representation, conduct outreach at local events and organize “Know Your Rights” workshops. We will also train regional immigration providers and legal nonprofits on the intricacies of representing LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, laying a foundation to increase direct legal representation that meets the needs of the Central Valley LGBTQ+ immigrant community. Over time, our direct services, education and advocacy in the Central Valley will have an immeasurable impact on the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people, reaching both recent arrivals and those who have been living undocumented in the U.S. for many years.
Oasis is one of the nation's highest-volume immigration service providers for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, and because of our expertise, we win 99% of our cases. This opportunity to expand our services and resources to LGBTQ+ immigrants in the Central Valley was made possible with the generous support of the California Access to Justice Commission's Infrastructure and Innovation Grant.
Meet Lizette Rojas,
Our Central Valley Legal Advocate
When asked by her parents what she wanted to be when she grew up, Lizette Rojas answered, "Voy a ser una abogada" (I'm going to be an attorney.) At just eight years old, Lizette knew she wanted to help her community.
"Growing up I saw a lot of injustice suffered by the people in my area, especially in my barrio (neighborhood). I wanted to be the one to help them. I decided that immigration is where I can have the greatest impact and change lives for the better. Opening this new office in the Central Valley allows for even more people to access the help they need, which is amazing."
Lizette Rojas was born and raised in the Coachella Valley in Southern California. She graduated from the University of California-Riverside with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and in 2018, she moved to the Bay Area to attend Golden Gate University School of Law, where she received her JD. While in law school, she externed with Oasis Legal Services, La Raza Centro Legal and GGU Immigration Clinic, and volunteered with Al Otro Lado. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends and family, listening to music, going to Target, going on boba runs and playing with her dogs.
Published April 5, 2022