Immigration Institute of the Bay Area - IIBA

08/28/2026

IIBA was proud to join the 2026 Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC) Conference in Fresno! 🌟 CVIIC Fresno

IIBA Redwood City Deputy Directing Attorney Amanda Alvarado Ford co-presented a panel on “Immigration Court Help Desk Services: Supporting Pro Se Respondents,” bringing together legal service providers from across California to share insights, best practices, and strategies for supporting immigrant communities.

We’re grateful for opportunities like these to learn from our partners, strengthen collaboration, and continue improving the services we provide. 💙

08/12/2026

We started the week off with a BIG WIN thanks to Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Knowles, from IIBA’s Petaluma office. Knowles successfully argued a preliminary injunction motion in federal district court in Oakland. The order found that due process protects our client, an asylum seeker with a U.S. citizen wife and three citizen children. This prevents our client’s arrest and preserves his liberty interest. This legal victory is part of the recently launched !

08/12/2026

Meet E D G A R P A C H E C O — whose earliest memories are of being with his loving family in Oaxaca, Mexico, playing near the river with his cousins in the small town of Santa Maria Tecomavaca. An immigrant to the United States at age 12, Edgar’s life was suddenly about overcoming economic hardships, language barriers and one obstacle after another. Today Edgar is more than an immigrant. He is a photographer, an educator and a devoted husband. With help from IIBA, Edgar obtained his green card and is now in the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. 

“I am very grateful to IIBA because they have changed my life for the better. Because of IIBA I was able to travel back to México, and reconnect with my culture and roots.” —Edgar

08/12/2026

👏 A big shoutout to IIBA’s Redwood City team for bringing trusted immigration legal services directly into the community!

Our team recently hosted a Know Your Rights presentation for day laborers at the City of San Mateo Worker Resource Center, part of Samaritan House of San Mateo County.

Led by IIBA DOJ Accredited Representative Hazel Sosa and IIBA attorney Amanda Alvarado Ford, alongside law student volunteers Fernanda Pardo (USF - rising 2L) and Katherine Stephens (UC Law SF - rising 2L), the workshop welcomed more than 12 community members. Several attendees also received one-on-one immigration legal consultations after the presentation.

We’re proud to meet people where they are and help ensure our neighbors have access to the information and legal support they deserve💙

08/12/2026

🤝 IIBA’s CCIS team and representatives from five local community colleges came together for the IIBA CCIS College Partners Summit to strengthen partnerships and share strategies for supporting immigrant students.

From immigration updates to conversations about campus challenges and successes, the summit created space to learn from one another and explore how we can better serve immigrant students together.

We look forward to continuing this collaboration! 💙

06/30/2026

We started the week off with a BIG WIN thanks to Senior Staff Attorney Elizabeth Knowles, from IIBA’s Petaluma office. Knowles successfully argued a preliminary injunction motion in federal district court in Oakland. The order found that due process protects our client, an asylum seeker with a U.S. citizen wife and three citizen children. This prevents our client’s arrest and preserves his liberty interest. This legal victory is part of the recently launched !

05/29/2026

Thanks to all who helped make our most recent IIBA Employment Authorization Document clinic in Redwood City a big success.

Together, we helped over 15 vulnerable community members apply for urgently needed work authorization.

“Of course it is difficult to leave the country where you grew up, because you have to start from scratch. We fled a violent situation and arrived here with no support network – no family or acquaintances,” said one asylum seeker who attended the clinic. “But thanks to IIBA, we feel more at peace — and motivated with hope to obtain a work permit that will help us secure good employment for our family. We truly feel more at peace. IIBA and the volunteers made us  feel safe and secure. It means so much to know you have someone by your side in helping navigate the legal system.”

Huge shout-out to our growing network of pro bono attorneys and volunteers – as well as our amazing Redwood City team for organizing so many behind-the-scenes logistics.

05/22/2026

05/20/2026

IIBA is proud to recognize with the 2026 Outstanding Pro Bono Partnership Award. Goodwin has been a partner since the very inception of IIBA’s pro bono program.

In just the last year, 132 Goodwin attorneys donated 400 hours of time and helped nearly 100 IIBA clients, like Arsenia and Juana (see spotlights).

“Goodwin has made a difference and allowed IIBA to put more individuals on a path to citizenship,” said Pro Bono Director Valentina Ozbek in presenting the award to Marianne Sarrazin, a Partner at Goodwin, during our recent Comedy Night event. “The added value Goodwin brings to IIBA is ‘outstanding’ in every sense of the word.”

05/15/2026

IIBA is proud be a part of this special training for community care with Indivisible North East Bay -- happening tomorrow in Pinole. Let's empower ourselves and protect our communities. Register for more info: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/944801/

In case ICE arrives in our towns, consider this. RSVP for Pinole location. https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/944801/