Pacific County Immigrant Support provides assistance and advocates for immigrants in Southwest Washington. We formed in 2018 to address an urgent, ongoing need that had shaken our community, the impact on families after the removal of a family member by immigration control. And we walked alongside these families to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
A couple hundred families have lived here for years and are an integral, productive part of our community. Immigrant voices drive our policy choices, direction and leadership.
We build resiliency through development of a grassroots group that effectively reaches the immigrant community with culturally-specific services. We deepen our reach with information and training, community outreach to homes and businesses, and advocating for systemic change. This includes engaging immigrants as community educators and navigators (Promotores), elevating immigrant voices within PCIS leadership, and conducting workshops on citizenship and English language education.
PCIS Promotores spend time getting to know these families and learn their most urgent needs. When the primary wage earner in a household is unable to work, social and financial assistance can make a huge difference for immigrant families.
What We Do:
- Advocate directly for families
- Connect families to resources and assist to submit applications
- Assist families with rent, utilities, food, diapers, attorney fees, bond, detention phone & commissary accounts, and other needs
- English as Language Acquisition Classes (ELA or ESL)
- Support for DACA applications and fees
- Citizenship preparation classes, assistance for citizenship applications and fees
- Accompaniment to court hearings
- Empower families with “Know Your Rights” information and support training events
- Rapid Response Network
- Deportation defense activities
- Write letters of support for bond or immigration applications
- Fundraising
- Community educational events
- Distribute information about COVID-19 resources