June marks Immigrant Heritage Month. This month we come together to honor the great contributions of immigrants to our country and celebrate their diverse backgrounds and profound impact.
According to the American Immigration Council, a substantial population of immigrants, many of whom are from the Caribbean, have long called Florida home. In Florida, more than one in five residents are foreign-born, while one in eight are citizens of the United States by birth but have at least one immigrant parent. Finally, one in four workers in Florida is an immigrant, contributing significantly to the state’s labor force in many industries. Immigrants remain a vital part of society and our own state contributing to the vast and dynamic communities across the state.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 1718, which took effect on July 1 of last year, is an effort from the Governor that will limit social services for undocumented immigrants, require hospitals that received Medicaid dollars to ask for a patient’s immigration status, and expand the Governor’s efforts to traffick asylum seekers. Senate Bill 1718 is a direct attack on the communities that contribute so much to our nation and state. In addition, House Bill 433, set to go into effect on July 1 of this year, preempts local governments from setting heat stress protections for outdoor workers. This law disproportionately affects the immigrant population at a time when Florida is getting hotter and hotter.
At Team Anna, we are fighting against the xenophobic legislation and policy that affect our state’s most vulnerable. Together, we honor the efforts of millions of immigrants in our country and their backgrounds and stories. We celebrate them not just this month, but every month.
Below is a list of community resources that empower immigrants in Florida and District 42. Please let us know if you have more suggestions for groups to add.
- Alianza: By developing successful campaigns that amplify community voices, Alianza advances the power of Hispanics/Latinos, especially those that are immigrants. This includes campaigns, a database of resources such as the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and petitions.
- ASISTA: ASISTA is a nationwide association of lawyers and advocates tackling the issues of immigration and gender-based violence. They assist in policy, litigation, and legal assistance and training.
- Catholic Charities of Central Florida – Immigration & Refugee Services: At Catholic Charities of Central Florida, they provide legal assistance with immigration, citizenship, employment authorization, and more as well as refugee programs to help those impacted integrate into the community and achieve self-sufficiency.
- The Center: They offer free legal services to the community which are primarily focused on immigration services and notarial services. They also offer free virtual immigration clinics with attorneys that are tailored to discuss immigration alternatives and to have all your questions answered. They are 30 minute sessions and are available in several languages such as Creole, English, Spanish and French.
- Church World Service: Church World Service of South Florida welcomes, feeds, and clothes newcomers; reunites and strengthens families, and enables resettled immigrants to become self-sufficient and integrated members of US society.
- Consulate of Colombia in Orlando: They offer assistance regarding visa services, certifications and certificates, civil registration, acknowledgment of signatures in private documents, and other procedures abroad.
- Consulate of Haiti in Orlando: The Consulate of Haiti offers assistance regarding visa services, passport services, notarial and document legalization, civil registration, and emergency documents.
- Consulate of Mexico in Orlando: The Consulate of Mexico provides protection and assistance with immigration, human rights, emergencies, educational opportunities, health guidance, and criminal, administrative, work, and family matters. They can provide passports, birth registrations, and many other services for visiting or resident American citizens in a country. They also issue visas for foreign citizens to visit, study, and work in the United States.
- The Contigo Fund: Contigo Fund, was established in the wake of the Pulse tragedy, and offers financial support to organizations in Central Florida fighting to empower LGBTQ and Latino people, immigrants, and people of color, as well as those working to abolish all forms of intolerance.
- Florida Immigrant Coalition: At the Florida Immigrant Coalition, their mission is to increase community connections, capacities, and consciousness in order to increase pro-immigrant power in Florida. For the “Know Your Rights” hotline, call 1-888-600-6762.
- Freedom Immigration: Freedom Immigration is your one-stop shop for all your immigration needs and beyond that as well. They provide comprehensive immigration, tax accounting, financial planning, real estate, and insurance solutions to the community.
- Hope CommUnity Center: The mission of the Hope Community Center, a service-learning organization, is to strengthen Central Florida’s immigrant and low-income communities through advocacy, education, and spiritual development.
- Immigration Equality: Advocates for and directly represents LGBTQIA+ and HIV-positive individuals in the immigration system. Through direct legal services, policy advocacy, and impact litigation, they advocate for immigrants and families facing discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
- Orlando Center for Justice: Project Hello is an immigrant orientation program that happens the first Thursday of each month at the Orlando Center for Justice and Cristiana Renuevo Church in Kissimmee. The program is intended to help immigrants who recently arrived in the area join the Orange and Osceola county communities.
- Peer Support Space: Peer Support Space was founded as a peer-led organization, that exists outside of the current system, where we use our lived experience to support and hold space for one another as we navigate our unique journeys with life struggles, mental illness, and/or substance misuse challenges, grief, trauma, or other obstacles to mental wellness.
- Queer LatinX: QLatinx works to advocate for the dignity and constitutional rights of all individuals, including our immigrant communities, and ensure that Central Florida is a community defined by its diversity and inclusivity, where all residents feel welcome, regardless of immigration status, religion, or country of origin.
- Refugee Health Services: The Refugee Health Services provides services including health assessments and immunization services.
- UCF Global at the University of Central Florida: UCF provides assistance for those navigating immigration here in Florida and in school. You can make appointments with an Immigration Advisor to learn more about your rights, get information on 1-20 extensions and visa renewal, and support cultural changes.