Berkshire Immigrant Center

06/15/2026

TPS Updates: Yemen & Lebanon

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) provides temporary work authorization and deportation protection to eligible individuals. The government has the opportunity every 6-18 months to extend or terminate eligibility for particular countries.

🔴 Here are some of the most recent updates:
• Yemen: Designation extended for now by May 1 court order
• Lebanon: Designation extended by the Dept. of Homeland Security through 11/27/2026

If you are in danger of losing your status soon, we strongly encourage consulting a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative as soon as possible to understand your options.

Please contact BIC if you have further questions:
📳 (413) 445-4881
📩 [email protected]

Sources:
🗣 uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhs-automatically-extends-temporary-protected-status-for-lebanon
🗣 apnews.com/article/yemen-trump-ho-temporary-protected-status-502bda8c84212e4e199bf365e5cc597c
🗣 uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/update-on-termination-of-tps-for-yemen

06/12/2026

Say hi to Team BIC at the 10th Annual Berkshire Pride Festival & Parade! 🏳️‍🌈 🌟

Berkshire Pride celebrates its 10th Annual Festival & Parade on Saturday, June 20, at Pittsfield Common Park. This milestone event honors a decade of love, visibility, and community for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies across the Berkshires. The celebration includes a parade through downtown Pittsfield, live entertainment, food vendors, community organizations, artisans, and activities for all ages.

Learn more at berkshirepride.org

06/12/2026

Non-Immigration Law Clinic ⚖ Consultas legales no relacionadas a inmigración

Meet with an attorney from Campoli, Monteleone & Mozian P.C. to address urgent legal concerns. 30-minute appointments are available the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 10am-12pm.

To schedule an appointment, contact our office:
📳 (413) 445-4881
📩 [email protected]

⚖ Upcoming Dates
• Tuesday, June 9 | 10am-12pm
• Tuesday, July 14 | 10am-12pm
• Tuesday, August 11 | 10am-12pm

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Reúnase con un abogado de Campoli, Monteleone & Mozian P.C. para tratar asuntos legales urgentes. Citas de 30 minutos están disponibles el segundo martes de cada mes de 10am-12pm.

Para programar una cita, comuníquese con nuestra oficina:
📳 (413) 445-4881
📩 [email protected]

⚖ Próximas fechas
• 9 de junio | 10am-12pm
• 14 de julio | 10am-12pm
• 11 de agosto | 10am-12pm

06/11/2026

06/10/2026

New USCIS Policy: Most Green Card Applicants Must Apply from Outside the US 🗣 Nueva Política de USCIS: La Mayoría de las Personas que Solicitan la Residencia Permanente Deberán Hacerlo Desde Fuera de EE.UU.

On May 21, USCIS announced that under a new policy, they will only approve adjustment of status (green cards) in extraordinary circumstances. They argue that the normal procedure for green card applicants is to go through processing at overseas consulates, which are overseen by the State Department rather than USCIS. Applying for a green card from within the United States has historically been a routine and widely-used pathway, but it may now become more restrictive. The new policy does not apply to all categories of applicants, and the requirements for green card eligibility have not changed.

To determine whether an individual can or should apply requires a detailed analysis of their specific circumstances, so it is recommended to seek professional legal advice from a licensed attorney or accredited representative like the ones at the Berkshire Immigrant Center.

Please contact the Berkshire Immigrant Center if you have questions.
📳 (413) 445-4881
📩 [email protected]

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El 21 de mayo, USCIS anunció que, bajo una nueva política, sólo aprobará ajustes de estatus (residencia permanente o “green card”) en circunstancias extraordinarias. USCIS argumenta que el procedimiento normal para solicitar la residencia permanente es a través del proceso consular en el extranjero, el cual es supervisado por el Departamento de Estado y no por USCIS. Históricamente, solicitar la residencia permanente desde dentro de Estados Unidos ha sido una vía común y ampliamente utilizada, pero ahora podría volverse más restrictiva. La nueva política no aplica a todas las categorías de solicitantes, y los requisitos para ser elegible para la residencia permanente no han cambiado.

Determinar si una persona puede o debe solicitar la residencia requiere un análisis detallado de sus circunstancias específicas, por lo que se recomienda buscar asesoría legal profesional de un abogado con licencia o de un representante acreditado, como los que trabajan en el Berkshire Immigrant Center.

¿Tiene preguntas? Por favor, comuníquese con el Berkshire Immigrant Center:
📳 (413) 445-4881
📩 [email protected]

Source:
🗣 uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/us-citizenship-and-immigration-services-will-grant-adjustment-of-status-only-in-extraordinary

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06/03/2026

Walk-In Clinics for Change of Address 🏠 Clínicas sin cita previa para cambio de dirección

Bring documents that were given to you at the border and meet with a BIC case worker for 30-minute sessions to change your address with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and/or Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) the first Wednesday of each month from 4-6pm.

🏠 Upcoming Dates
• Wednesday, June 3
• Wednesday, July 1
• August 5 | 4-6pm

This walk-in clinic is free of charge. This is not an immigration consultation. This clinic is held at Berkshire Immigrant Center: 141 North Street, Suite 303 (3rd floor), Pittsfield, MA 01201

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Traiga los documentos que le dieron en la frontera y reúnase con un trabajador de casos de BIC para sesiones de 30 minutos para cambiar su dirección con el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) y / o la Oficina Ejecutiva para Revisión de Inmigración (EOIR) el primer miércoles de cada mes de 4-6pm.

🏠 Próximas fechas
• Miércoles 3 de junio
• Miércoles 1 de julio
• Miércoles 3 de agosto

Esta clínica es gratuita. Esto no es una consulta de inmigración. Esta clínica se lleva a cabo en el Berkshire Immigrant Center: 141 North Street, Suite 303 (3er piso), Pittsfield, MA 01201

06/01/2026

Immigration Updates with BIC at our monthly presentation

🗓 Upcoming Dates
• Wednesday, June 3
• Wednesday, July 1
• Wednesday, August 5

Join a BIC case worker to learn about the latest immigration policy changes, legal updates, and government announcements, and answer your questions. Whether you're a community member, service provider, or an immigrant, these sessions are a chance to stay informed. 📍You must register in advance: rb.gy/vwq60g.

Online presentations are offered the first Wednesday of each month at 11am in English. Presentations are not recorded, as circumstances are changing rapidly, and we aim to provide the most up-to-date information.

06/01/2026

USCIS Will Reject Asylum Applications If Annual Fee is Unpaid

Effective May 29, USCIS is implementing several new rules related to the H.R.1 funding bill, which passed last year:
• The annual asylum fee of $102 must be paid within 30 days of USCIS notice. Otherwise, the application will be rejected, work authorization will be revoked, and individuals without other status may be placed in removal proceedings.
• Fees will not be refunded for asylum applications that are rejected for any reason.
• TPS-based work authorization is limited to a maximum of one year or the duration of the TPS designation, whichever is shorter.

Note that these rules are for people seeking asylum through USCIS and do not apply to applications submitted by people in immigration court proceedings. However, similar rules are in place for those individuals, and they are still required to pay the annual asylum fee.

Please contact the Berkshire Immigrant Center if you have questions.
📳 (413) 445-4881
📩 [email protected]

Source:
🗣 uscis.gov/.../dhs-announces-consequences-for...

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06/01/2026

Read BIC's May Bulletin 💚❤️💙 What's Inside:

• 🗽 Beacon of Hope: BIC's Annual Benefit with Special Guests Deval Patrick & Jorge Ávila

• 🌎 Immigration Updates: Updated ICE Guidance: Warrantless Forced Entries & Understanding Judicial vs. Administrative Warrants

• 👥 BIC Programs, Events & More: Upcoming Clinics & Presentations for Immigrants & Allies: Immigration Updates with BIC, Walk-In Clinics for Change of Address, Non-Immigration Law Clinic

• 🗓 Community Events: Say Hello & Learn More About BIC: Mass MoCA Community Day, Berkshire Pride Festival & Parade, NAACP Berkshires’ Juneteenth Celebration

• 🫶 Local Support: Organizations That Are Supporting BIC: Berkchique, Fiber Arts & Fashion Design exhibit Kimball Farms

• 💚 How to Support BIC

• 📍 Contact BIC & Stay Informed

📖 https://mailchi.mp/berkshireic/2026-may-bulletin-2

Subscribe to Berkshire Immigrant Center’s free monthly newsletter for the latest in immigration news, upcoming events, and local activities.

MASS MoCA
Berkshire Pride
NAACP-Berkshire County Branch
Kimball Farms Life Care & PineHill Assisted Living
BerkChique

05/29/2026

Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and acclaimed musician Jorge Ávila come together for a special evening of conversation, music, and community at Berkshire Immigrant Center’s annual Beacon of Hope benefit. 🗽

Join us Sunday, June 7, in celebration and in support of our local immigrant community. Governor Patrick will lead a conversation with Ávila about his journey from Honduras and his extraordinary career in classical music, followed by a special performance by Ávila.

The evening also includes a social hour with generous hors d’oeuvres and a paddle raise. Don’t miss this celebration at Shakespeare & Company starting at 5:00 pm!

🫶 Proceeds help fund the life-changing services of Berkshire Immigrant Center, serving the estimated 10,000 immigrants of Berkshire County. Your support helps make the Berkshires a stronger, more welcoming community for everyone.

🗽 Beacon of Hope Benefit
🗓 Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 5:00pm
📍 Shakespeare & Company, Lenox

Many thanks to this year's Lead Sponsors: The Donald C. McGraw Foundation, The Gilson Family Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and Sherwood Guernsey.