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IRIS' funding has been frozen since January 20th.
This fund was established to keep our doors open so that we can continue to serve refugees and immigrants with case management and legal services. IRIS Homepage: Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Service.
Why is this neccessary?
On January 20th, President Trump signed an Executive Order suspending U.S. refugee resettlement. Just days later, on Friday, January 24th, IRIS received an official stop-work notice from the Department of State. Effective immediately, all federal funding for refugee resettlement has been frozen—including the funds that cover essential expenses like staff payroll, rent, food, and case management.
This meant NO federal funds to support any of our 46 most recently arrived refugee clients. Only private donations could provide assistance to the refugee families who were still within the critical firts 30-days of resettlement. Families who, after years of waiting and fleeing horrific conditions of violence overseas, finally reached safety here-- only to face yet another crisis.
Due to these devastating federal funding cuts, six vital members of our legal team—including multilingual attorneys, accredited legal representatives, and paralegals—faced anticipated layoffs as of March. These are the very professionals who help immigrants apply for work permits, green cards, and citizenship—services that are more critical than ever as ICE ramps up indiscriminate immigration raids.
Since April 1st, IRIS has been operating with a reduced staff. While layoffs were invitable, some staff had to be reduced to part-time.
The stakes for immigrant families in Los Angeles have never been higher. IRIS’s legal team and case management team are lifelines for those seeking safety, stability, and a future in the United States. Without support for case management, our ability to help immigrant families receive food, shelter, medical care, and job support— disappears overnight. We cannot allow this to happen. Immigrant families in our community are counting on us, and we need your support to ensure IRIS remains a pillar of protection and hope.
2025 marks IRIS’s 20th anniversary of welcoming and empowering refugees.
Your support helps IRIS to provide life-changing legal support to those who need it most and ensure that refugees receive basic necessities that allow them to rebuild their lives. Please join us as we stand up for immigrant rights and ensure that no one faces the immigration system alone.
On behalf of everyone at IRIS, thank you for your consideration!
Donate to the IRIS Emergency Fund
IRIS is a program of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Los Angeles which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation is tax-deductible. The organization’s tax identification number is 95-1684078. 100% of your donation goes to IRIS.
Proof of nonprofit status: IRIS-LA.org/nonprofitstatus