EBSC provides many free and low-cost legal services for immigrants. Call us to set up an appointment at (510) 540-5296 or email us at info@eastbaysanctuary.org.

Travel Advisory

ENGLISH
(AUGUST 2026)

This alert applies to the following groups:
– Undocumented immigrants
– Undocumented immigrants with pending applications, including but not limited to asylum, SIJS, U visa, T visa, VAWA, residency, etc.
– DACA Holders
– TPS Holders
– Permanent residents with criminal history (other than minor traffic violations) that happened after they were granted residency status

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly ramped up immigration arrests at major airports nationwide, including airports in the Bay Area. The ongoing crackdown primarily targets foreign nationals who entered the country legally but overstayed their visas, including individuals with pending applications or valid work permits. HOWEVER, other groups of undocumented immigrants, including DACA and TPS holders, have been or may be targeted in the coming weeks/months.

It is not safe to travel by plane, even domestically, if you are not a citizen or permanent resident (without criminal history) of the U.S. If you must travel, please know you are doing so at your own risk.

Please remember that a PENDING application or having a valid work permit does not equate to having a legal status in the United States. If you are not sure about your immigration status, please contact our office at (510) 646-8484. Please leave a voicemail if we don’t pick up and we will call you back.

ESPAÑOL
(AGOSTO 2026)

Esta alerta aplica a los siguientes grupos:
– Inmigrantes indocumentados
– Inmigrantes indocumentados con aplicaciones pendientes, incluyendo pero no limitadas a Asilo, Estatus de Joven Inmigrante Especial (SIJS), Visa U, Visa T, Ley de Violencia Contra la Mujer (VAWA), residencia, etc.
– Aquellos con Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA)
– Aquellos con Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS)
– Residentes permanentes con antecedentes penales/criminales (aparte de violaciones menores de tráfico) que hayan ocurrido después de que se les diera su estatus de residencia

El Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de los Estados Unidos (ICE/La Migra), ha intensificado los arrestos de inmigracion en los aeropuertos en todo el país, incluyendo aeropuertos en el Área de la Bahía. La campaña de represión se dirige principalmente a nacionales extranjeros que entraron al país legalmente pero permanecieron más tiempo del permitido por su visa, incluyendo aquellos con aplicaciones pendientes o con permisos de trabajo válidos. SIN EMBARGO, otros grupos de inmigrantes indocumentados, incluyendo aquellos con Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA) y Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS), han sido o pueden ser objeto de estos arrestos en las próximas semanas/ meses.

No es seguro viajar por avión, incluso a nivel nacional, si usted no es un ciudadano o residente permanente (sin antecedentes penales/criminales) de los Estados Unidos. Si debe viajar, por favor tenga en cuenta que lo hace bajo a su propio riesgo.

Por favor recuerde que una aplicación PENDIENTE o tener un permiso de trabajo válido no equivale a tener estatus legal en los Estados Unidos. Si no está seguro de su estatus inmigratorio, por favor contacte a nuestra oficina al número (510) 646-8484. Por favor deje un mensaje si no podemos contestar su llamada y le devolveremos su llamada lo más pronto posible.

Português
(AGOSTO 2026)

Esta alerta aplica aos grupos a seguir:
– Imigrantes sem documentação
– Imigrantes sem documentação com solicitações pendentes, incluindo mas não limitados a: asilo político, estado de jovem imigrante especial (SIJS), Visa U, Visa T, Lei de Violência Contra a Mulher (VAWA), residência, etc.
– Imigrantes com Ação Diferida para Chegadas na Infância (DACA)
– Imigrantes com Estado de Proteção Temporária
– Residentes permanentes com antecedentes criminais (além de infrações leves de trânsito) ocorrido depois de conseguir o seu estado de residente

O ICE tem intensificado as detenções de imigracao nos aeroportos por todo o país, incluindo aeroportos na Área da Bahia. A campanha de repressão se enfoca principalmente em pessoas estrangeiras que entraram ao país legalmente mas que permaneceram mais tempo do que foi permitido pelo seu visto, incluindo aqueles com solicitações pendentes ou com permissões de trabalho válidas. MESMO ASSIM, outros grupos de imigrantes sem documentação, incluindo aqueles com DACA e TPS, têm sido ou podem ser objeto destas detenções nas próximas semanas ou meses.

Não é seguro viajar por avião, incluindo em viagens domésticas, se você não é cidadão ou residente permanente (sem antecedentes criminais) dos Estados Unidos. Se precisa viajar, por favor tenha em mente que o faz por sua conta e risco.

Por favor lembre-se que ter uma solicitação PENDENTE ou ter uma permissão de trabalho válida não equivale ter um estado legal nos Estados Unidos. Se não está seguro do seu estado migratório, por favor contacte a nossa oficina no (510) 646-8484. Por favor, deixe uma mensagem se não podemos atender a sua ligação e lhe retornaremos a sua ligação o mais rápido possível.

Free Immigration Legal Drop-In Clinics

FREE IMMIGRATION WORKSHOPS & CLINICS IN RICHMOND

Every 3rd Saturday of the month from 10 am – 3:30 pm. Walk-ins are welcome and English, Spanish, and Mam interpretation is available.

Services:
• Free consultations with an immigration attorney
• Work permit applications and renewals
• Residency renewals
• Asylum applications
• Other immigration consultations and services
• Referrals to other organizations

Location: Multicultural Institute (3600 Macdonald Ave, Richmond, CA)

VOCES MAYA DROP-IN CLINIC

First 3 Saturdays of each month from 10 am – 2:30 pm. No appointment is necessary and help is available on a first-come first-serve basis.

Services:
• Free consultations with an immigration attorney
• Work permit applications and renewals
• Residency renewals
• Asylum applications
• Medi-Cal applications
• Food stamps (CalFresh)
• Other services

Call 510-485-9609 to receive the location of our clinic. We speak Mam, Spanish, and English.

What legal services do you need?

New Asylee Information

Affirmative Asylum

EBSC may be able to help you file an affirmative asylum application. This type of asylum is available only to people who are already in the U.S. and are afraid to go back to their home country. EBSC can help only people who are residing in the SF Asylum Office jurisdiction.  

Note: Except for unaccompanied minors, the affirmative asylum process is available only to people who are not in immigration court proceedings and have never been deported.  

If you are accepted as an EBSC client, we will help you explain why you are seeking asylum, prepare you for the asylum interview, provide interpretation, and accompany you to your interview. We support you through the entire asylum process.

We regularly take these types of asylum cases:

  • People who have suffered domestic violence
  • People who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community
  • People who are unaccompanied minors (under age 18)
  • Indigenous Guatemalans
  • Other people fleeing violence and persecution in their home country

DACA

If you arrived in the U.S. as a child before June 15, 2007, you may be eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). EBSC can help you with your initial, renewal, and advance parole applications, as well as with complex cases involving criminal arrests and convictions.

We can also help you seek permanent immigration relief through programs such as Asylum, U Visa, Green Card through Family Petition, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.

Learn more about our DACA Services.

REQUEST DACA APPOINTMENT

Green Card (Permanent Resident Card)

If you won your asylum case and want to get or renew a Green Card so you can live and work permanently in the United States, EBSC can help.

Call us to set up an appointment at (510) 540-5296 or email us at info@eastbaysanctuary.org.

Work Permit (Employment Authorization)

*For existing EBSC clients only*

  • If you are an EBSC client and have asylum approval: Apply for or renew your work permit through EBSC.
  • If you are an EBSC client and your asylum application is pending: You can renew your work permit through EBSC. Be sure to contact us 6 months before the expiration date of your current work permit.

Call us to set up an appointment at (510) 540-5296 or email us at info@eastbaysanctuary.org.

U.S Citizenship (Naturalization)

You must be a Green Card holder before you can apply for U.S. citizenship.
You are usually eligible to apply for citizenship 4 years and 9 months after the “Resident since” date on your Green Card. You may be eligible to apply for citizenship before 4 years and 9 months if you are married to a U.S. citizen. We can help with complex naturalization cases.

We also offer classes to help you prepare for the citizenship exam. Learn more about Community Education.

REQUEST NATURALIZATION APPOINTMENT

Unaccompanied Minors

If you were under 18 when you arrived in the U.S. without a parent, we may be able to help you apply for asylum or another status that will help you stay in the U.S. legally.

Minors who are abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents may qualify for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS). You must have documentation from the office of refugee resettlement (ORR) that states you are an unaccompanied minor. We can also help connect you with local counseling services, social services, and stability.

Call us to set up an appointment at (510) 540-5296 or email us at info@eastbaysanctuary.org.