From the 2020-2021 Annual Report:

Chairpersons: Jean Walat (QUUF) and Larry Jensen (not a QUUF member)

QUUF Committee members for 2020 – 2021: Julia Cochran, John Collins, Katie Franco (until 12/31), Kathleen Holt, Linda Murphy, Jean Walat, Sara Ybarra Lopez, plus many other supportive QUUF members

Summary of Activities/Purpose: Our mission is to support the rights of immigrants and their families, giving priority to those who live or work on the Olympic Peninsula, and immigrant detainees within Washington State, through access to legal services, standing witness, family support, community education, and advocacy for local, state and national issues.

Major Accomplishments for the Year: COVID-19 has been the major influence on our activities. Since March 2020 we’ve given out over $240,000 in assistance to immigrants on the North Olympic Peninsula for rent, food, medical bills, etc. This was possible through donations from individuals, from Jefferson Community Foundation, from the QUUF designated offering (thank you!) and other sources. The requests for assistance have slowed since the economy has returned somewhat and some people went back to work. We also served as a connector between immigrants and other funds and resources open to them. Other accomplishments:

• We partnered with Jefferson Healthcare and St. Mary’s Catholic Church to host a vaccine clinic with Spanish speaking helpers in early May 2021.
• We took on sponsorship of two asylum seekers in February 2020 and have helped them financially with housing, transportation, and navigating through the asylum process. One of them has been granted asylum and now has a work permit; the other is doing well but still waiting for a COVID-delayed immigration hearing and work permit.
• We sponsored an ESL class that had to go online but is serving about 16 ongoing students, September through June.
• Through a partnership with Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center, we trained volunteers provided legal assistance to immigrants seeking changes in their legal status.

Goals for Next Year and Beyond: Working with other immigration organizations, we have intensified efforts to track, advertise and comment on immigration-related legislation at the state and federal levels. The federal environment for immigrants is potentially better than during the last four years, but we want to help ensure that promises become reality. We are looking at how JCIRA needs to adapt to changes in immigration law and what that means for area immigrants, while continuing the work that we have been doing.

Submitted by: Jean Walat

This page last updated July 26, 2022