Manzanita House

08/24/2026

📣 ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY: Write a public comment against affirmative asylum referrals without interview.

A new DHS rule allows USCIS to refer certain affirmative asylum applications directly to immigration court without first interviewing the applicant, based on the written record and other available evidence. This may harm asylum seekers by removing a key opportunity to explain their experiences and clarify their claims before being placed into removal proceedings, potentially making an already complex process more difficult to navigate.

🔗Submit a comment: https://buff.ly/SEYwPHG

➡️ Public Comment Example Template (we strongly encourage you to rewrite a comment in your own words):

I am writing to oppose the interim final rule “Affirmative Asylum Referrals Without Interview.”

Allowing USCIS to refer asylum applications to immigration court without an in-person interview takes away a critical chance for people to explain their stories, correct mistakes, and overcome language or trauma-related barriers. Many asylum seekers cannot fully share their experiences on paper alone, especially without legal help.

This rule will likely push more cases into already backlogged immigration courts and make it harder for people with strong claims to get protection. I urge DHS and USCIS to keep in-person interviews as the norm in affirmative asylum cases and to address backlogs through increased staffing and support, not by reducing due process.

Thank you for considering my comment.

[If you have any particular case stories or data that would shed light on how these increases would affect you, your friends/family, or organization, add that information here.]

08/20/2026

In 2022, about 7.2 million college-educated immigrants were in the U.S. labor force, including roughly 3.7 million who earned their degrees abroad. [source: Migration Policy Institute]

Edita - a mother, wife, and professional - came to the Spokane with a pharmacy degree and years of experience in her field.

With support from our Referral Hub team as she navigated credential transfer and licensure requirements, and through many hours of studying English, she is now working toward practicing what she trained for and bringing valuable skills into our community and workforce.

“Everything in the U.S. everything is very different from home. At first here it was pretty tough to adapt, but thank God we have communities that support us," Edita shared. "Manzanita House is a very beneficial organization. They are really trying to help people."

We can't wait to visit Edita in her new job.

08/18/2026

Eastern Washington is often described as a legal desert for immigrant legal aid, with too few immigration attorneys available to meet the needs of our community. That makes the attorneys who do serve this region especially vital - and Sam Smith is one of them.

As Manzanita House’s Co-Founder, Director of Immigrant Legal Aid, and an immigration attorney, Sam plays many critical roles for both our organization and the communities we serve. He stays close to client work while supporting our legal team, tracking the constantly changing immigration landscape, and helping educate the broader community so neighbors can better support and advocate for immigrants.

“One big reason I wanted to co-found Manzanita House was to build a better future where there were more and better legal services in Eastern Washington than when I started practicing,” Sam shared. “I am so grateful to have a team that is doing incredible work and to play a role in their development and longevity.”

Sam’s work is rooted in both direct service and community connection:

“My role allows me to stay close to client work, both through my own caseload and by supporting other MILA staff in their casework. It is also deeply connected to community education, speaking, and outreach. I feel it is important to be an outward-facing communicator about our work and the larger immigration concerns facing our clients and community.”

We are deeply grateful for Sam’s vision, heart, joy, and grit - qualities that helped establish Manzanita House and continue to make our team, our community, and our region stronger and more just.

Sam is an important piece of the Manzanita House puzzle.

08/17/2026

Join us TOMORROW for our free, virtual Immigration 101 series. This month we're focusing on survivor-based immigration.

📅 TOMORROW, August 18th, 5:30–6:15 PM // Every 3rd Tuesday of the month
💻 Zoom: https://buff.ly/HCjieTA
🔹 Meeting ID: 870 8304 9302

Whether you're a community member, educator, service provider, volunteer, or simply curious to learn more, we hope you'll join us as we explore immigration topics together.

08/13/2026

Our stories are shaped by our histories, cultures, and experiences, and no two paths are exactly alike. Yet so many of us share the same hopes: safety, belonging, and freedom.

For Stella, being American can be described in one word: freedom. She reminds us that while our journeys may look different, the values that matter most often connect us all.

❓️For 250 years, America has been shaped by people seeking freedom. What does freedom mean to you? Share in the comments!

08/12/2026

Immigration can be hard to understand. We're here to help.

📽️ Watch a recording of our recent Immigration 101 Series workshop, focused on family-based immigration: https://vimeo.com/1213406220

📆 Join us for next week's Immigration 101 workshop: Survivor-based benefits (VAWA, U visa, T visa) -
🔸 8/18 (3rd Tuesday of every month)
🔸 5:30pm - 6:15pm
🔸 Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87083049302 / Meeting ID: 870 8304 9302

This is a recording of our June 2026 Immigration 101 series workshop, focused on Family-Based Immigration. Join us every 3rd Tuesday of the month on Zoom from 5:30-6:15pm. Whether you're a community member, educator, service provider, volunteer, or simply curious to learn more, we hope you'll join u...

08/11/2026

The immigration process is complex.

Javiera, our legal advocate, helps immigrants understand their options, avoid mistakes, and feel less alone along the way.

“As a legal advocate, I get to help make immigration legal help more accessible so that immigrants and refugees have a better understanding of their status and how they can move forward here in the U.S.,” Javiera shared.

Her role is a critical part of an immigrant’s journey - people with legal help are more likely to receive a fair hearing and better outcomes in court. Just as important, Javiera’s warm, wise, and welcoming spirit helps clients feel safe and seen.

“My role is important to me because I feel honored to serve the immigrant community that I am also a part of. Working as a legal advocate and being a small part of a client’s immigration story is very meaningful to me,” she said.

Javiera is one of the pieces of the Manzanita House puzzle that makes welcome possible.

08/10/2026

Learning a new language can offer a small glimpse into what many immigrants experience every day - adapting to a new home, a new culture, and new ways of communicating.

Support our immigrant community by registering for our Fall Community Language Clubs! Registration is now open: https://buff.ly/4Mlpdhl

📆 Spanish and Arabic clubs begin September 8, 2026, 6:30pm - 8pm
📧 Questions? Email Teresa Schock at [email protected]

📽️: Kinetic Village

08/06/2026

We couldn't agree more with International Rescue Committee in Spokane's sentiments and are grateful we could also participate in last Tuesday's Community Convening at Spokane Public Schools.

We are in this together - and we're stronger together. 💛

This might just look like a picture of Shadle Park High School, but what’s happening inside the school is a caring community in action!

Inside is a free, drop-in summer day camp for families affected by the fires. In addition to the games, activities, and lunch for kids, there are areas for families to get food, clothing, and other support.

We were there to participate in a community convening for immediate and long-term fire response efforts, hosted by Spokane Public Schools, Innovia, the American Red Cross Northwest Region, and city and county officials. The auditorium was filled with individuals from non-profits, faith communities, local businesses, and public health and education leaders who all came with resources to coordinate and share.

City of Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown spoke to the incredible work of firefighters and community members. She shared that incident response teams from across the state and country who are here to help have remarked that it is unprecedented in emergency response to see a city come together so well and so quickly as they’re seeing in Spokane’s fire response. She said she has no doubt that recovery efforts over the coming months will be met with the same spirit and effectiveness.

It is inspiring to be part of a community that demonstrates unity and strength during hard times. It’s equally heartening to be part of a team at IRC who brings that same level of dedication to community to their work. In the last 3 days, our colleagues, many who have been displaced by the fires themselves, have rallied to speak to over 100 clients to assess safety, survey needs, and offer mobile outreach and case management.

It was evident today that Spokane is special. Spokane shows up, and with the community’s combined efforts working together to make a difference for those affected, we will all be stronger.

08/05/2026

As Dr. Oscar Harris, Director of the Office of Family and Community Engagement at Spokane Public Schools, shared at yesterday's community support convening, "There is no wrong pathway to resources."

Here is our collection of some currently available resources. Many others, as well as additional helpful information, can be found on our regularly updated Community Resources Page.

🔗 https://www.manzanitahousespokane.org/community-resources

We are so much stronger together, Spokane. 💪

Please pass this list on and reach out if you'd like to be added to our resource page. 🙏 We'd also strongly encourage you to check out Spokane Public School's resource page: https://www.spokanecommunityresources.org/