FROM ADVOCACY TO ACTION
Explore our Impact Report by clicking on any of the buttons below.
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OASIS BY THE NUMBERS
An overview of our client demographics, revenue, and spending
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Remarks from our Executive Director and Board Chair
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PARTNERING FOR JUSTICE
Interns, volunteers, and pro bono attorneys
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FROM TRAUMA TO TRIUMPH
Empowering queer and trans immigrants
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STRENGTHENING SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Training providers to advocate for queer and trans immigrants
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A NEW ERA OF ACCESS
Free asylum services for low-income LGBTQ+ immigrants
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IMMIGRATION STATUS IS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH
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FROM ADVOCACY TO ACTION
Securing rights and benefits for LGBTQ+ immigrants
Securing Rights and Benefits for LGBTQ+ Immigrants
Our organizational philosophy towards advocacy is characterized by a fusion of legal and community-driven strategies aimed at advancing the rights and well-being of queer and trans immigrants. Grounded in the experiences of our clients, and elevated by our legal advocates from all backgrounds, we advocate for more equitable policies, upholding that LGBTQ+ people are deserving of safety from persecution.
In 2024, Oasis engaged in nine regulatory advocacy efforts, 23 legislative advocacy efforts, and 25 other types of advocacy campaigns relating to issues impacting our community including more humane detention policies (and limitations to immigrant detention), increased access to work authorization and medical benefits, addressing food insecurity, combating anti-asylum policies, and advancing homelessness prevention efforts.
Advocacy Spotlight: Work Authorization Extensions
Due to government backlogs, there are over two million pending asylum cases in the United States. By the end of 2024, Oasis had 900 clients stuck in the asylum backlog. While asylum seekers qualify for temporary work authorization, they have been required to regularly renew this authorization, a process which is costly and can lead to gaps in authorization and unemployment, and loss of benefits due to government processing delays. In order to mitigate these substantial hardships, in the fall of 2024, Oasis joined the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) and other community partners to advocate for a permanent and long term extension of work authorization documentation. On December 10, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security issued a permanent rule extending the validity of work permits for 540 days and providing relief to millions of people.
Post Election: Protect and Pivot
Recognizing the significant implications of the U.S. presidential election on immigration and asylum policies, Oasis worked throughout the fall, planning internally and meeting with organizational partners on scenario planning to ensure that we were prepared for the next administration’s policies.
On November 5, 2024, Donald Trump was elected the next president of the United States and on November 6, 2024, Oasis staff sprang into action and assessed which of our clients were most vulnerable and outlined next steps to protect our community members from the draconian immigration policy changes threatened by the incoming administration. To defend as many LGBTQ+ asylum seekers as possible from deportation, we implemented a plan to file 74 asylum applications before January 17, 2025 (almost triple what we would normally file in that time period). Having a pending asylum application would offer a first line of defense against deportation under current rules. In addition, anticipating changes in asylum seekers eligibility for work authorization, staff identified 92 clients who urgently needed applications filed to secure work authorization before the new administration took office. Oasis committed to cover the $520 work permit filing fee for clients who were unable to pay this on such short notice.
“We are helping all the clients with whom we have done intake or initial interviews, for we want to make sure that we help them file for asylum as soon as possible in case that right goes away," said Rachel Kafele, Director of Programs & Advocacy. "So we are having emergency clinics to make sure everyone that we've spoken to, and we know qualifies for asylum, has a chance to do so."
Ultimately, by January 17, 2025, Oasis was able to successfully file asylum applications for 88 new clients and 119 work authorization applications for queer and trans immigrants.
