Dear *|FNAME|*,
As many of you know, we are living in unprecedented times, with a cloud of fear and uncertainty hanging over both our clients and supporters. However, our goal is not to spread fear, but to empower individuals with knowledge, resources, and the tools they need to take action. Below, we’ve compiled key updates and ways you can help.
Updates at IIA
Refugee Resettlement: A Vital Program Suspended
On January 20th, an Executive Order was signed, suspending refugee resettlement in the United States for 90 days, affecting 115 IIA clients who had recently arrived in Akron. As a result, IIA can no longer provide essential services to these refugees, including housing assistance, food support, enrollment in public benefit programs, and more. The critical guidance we offer to help refugees navigate their new lives has been put on hold. We have been told to stop work.
In response, we moved our resettlement team to our social services program and enrolled families still in need of essential support. This includes a young family of eight with two eight-month-old twin babies. Despite the halt in refugee resettlement, we were still able to assist this family by securing housing, providing clothing and furniture, enrolling the children in school, and helping the parents access English classes, among other services.
If you would like to support us during this time so that we can continue helping immigrant and refugee families in need, please consider donating to our Emergency Funds Campaign. With your help, we can continue assisting individuals facing food insecurity, housing instability, and financial hardship through both essential services and direct needs-based support.
Immigration Legal Support: Fighting for Justice
Since January 20th, fear has spread throughout our immigrant communities due to the increase in ICE enforcement activities and deportation threats in Northeast Ohio. IIA wants to reassure our community that our team of immigration attorneys is actively providing low-cost legal services and standing up for those at risk.
Just last week, our legal team helped a family win their asylum case before the Cleveland Immigration Court and prevented their deportation. Thanks to this victory, this Akron family now has the chance to live safely in the U.S. without fear of being sent back to a life-threatening situation.
We are also offering legal clinics to all affected immigrant communities. If you are an immigrant who would like to participate and learn about your legal rights contact kevin.walter@iiakron.org
For information on recent executive orders, know your rights resources, and more, please go to www.iiakron.org.
To support our legal team in providing legal access and education to our Akron immigrant community, please donate to our Emergency Funds Campaign.
Planning for the Future
IIA’s Board of Directors and senior leadership team are working diligently to develop a strategy that will allow us to continue supporting and protecting immigrant families in the face of ongoing changes. Thank you to Julie Clark of BVU for leading an essential board development session during our January board meeting and thank you to the Akron Community Foundation for supporting the session.
Self-Education Resources: Learn & Advocate
One of the best ways to make a difference is through education—understanding the history, policies, and personal stories that shape immigrant experiences. Below is a curated list of books that offer deep insight into the realities of migration, refugee crises, and resilience.
Recommended Reads:
Not a Nation of Immigrants by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz – Challenges the traditional narrative that the U.S. is a nation built by immigrants, revealing the deep-rooted history of settler colonialism, forced displacement, and exclusionary policies.
Everyone Who is Gone is Here by Jonathan Blitzer – A deeply reported book that follows asylum seekers and immigration advocates, providing a gripping look at the U.S. immigration system’s failures and complexities.
Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas shares his powerful personal story of growing up undocumented in America, offering a raw and emotional perspective on identity and belonging.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya – A heartbreaking yet hopeful memoir about escaping the Rwandan genocide as a child, spending years in refugee camps, and rebuilding a new life in the U.S.
The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri – A thought-provoking blend of memoir and investigative reporting, challenging the way refugees are perceived and the burdens placed upon them.
The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen – A collection of beautifully written short stories that explore the lives of Vietnamese refugees, shedding light on themes of displacement, survival, and identity.
How to Get Involved: Take Action Today
Donate
Your support ensures that immigrant families continue receiving legal assistance, food security, housing support, and essential services. Every dollar makes a difference.
Join Advocacy Groups
Stay informed and advocate for immigrant rights. Follow IIA on Facebook and Instagram for action items. To start helping immediately, check out Ohio Immigrant Alliance, which provides resources and advocacy opportunities:
Support Immigrant-Owned Businesses
A powerful way to uplift immigrant communities is by shopping at and supporting immigrant-owned businesses. Whether it's dining at a family-owned restaurant, shopping at a local market, or hiring immigrant entrepreneurs, your support contributes to economic stability in Akron.
Call to Action
Visit our website’s Resources page for educational tools and materials. Sign up for IIA’s newsletter to stay updated on the latest news and specific calls to action.
Thank You for Your Support
Now more than ever, community action and solidarity matter. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to standing with immigrants and refugees. Together, we can continue fighting for justice and ensuring that everyone has a chance to build a safe, stable life in the U.S.
