Community Support for Migrants Navigating the U.S. Immigration System

Key findings:

• Responding organizations provide a wide range of community support services, through both direct provision of services and referrals. Immigration legal services, social assistance, and housing assistance were among the most frequently provided. Not all organizations provide all services, and the survey and convening both highlighted the critical importance of collaboration and connections between organizations.
• More than two-thirds of responding organizations indicated a strong interest in expanding capacity; many organizations cited funding constraints as a key reason they have not expanded.
• This strong interest in expanding capacity is timely given that many organizations also predicted an increased need for services if Trump administration policies that blocked access to asylum or release from detention are reversed. Organizations have also seen an increased demand due to COVID-19.
• Just over 70% of responding organizations provide long-term services for those already in their final destinations, 50% provide short-term services, such as temporary housing or access to transportation upon release from the border or detention, and 42% provide both short- and long-term services.
• Many organizations have either a large capacity or serve small populations each year. 34% of respondents provide at least one service to over 500 people per year, while 37% provide at least one service to fewer than 50 people per year. The convening showed a strong interest in collaboration between these organizations.

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