Helping Familes During This Time

New Step-By-Step Family Prepardness Plan / Plan De Preparación Familiar: (Guía Completa)

English: Step-by-Step Family Preparedness

Spanish: Plan De Preparación Familiar

Ohio Immigrant Alliance Hotline If you or your loved one experiences racial profiling or abuse by the Border Patrol, ICE, state and local law enforcement, or anyone else, report abuse hotline@ohioimmigrant.org or call 419-777-HELP (4357). Protect your community. Learn about the Ohio Immigrant Hotline and share it on social media, using this toolkit. Donate to support the hotline’s operations at https://bit.ly/DonateOIA.

HOW TO FIND A LOVED ONE AFTER A U.S. IMMIGRATION ARREST

CRIS, FAMILIA Hotline CRIS is launching the new FAMILIA Hotline (Family Aid for Members in need of Legal Immigration Assistance) to help Central Ohio residents locate loved ones who may be in ICE detention and to connect families with the support and next steps they may need to navigate a crisis. If you want to support this work and the other services CRIS offers in our community, consider making a donation to CRIS as 2025 comes to a close.

How-to-Find-a-Loved-One-After-a-U.S.-Immigration-Arrest.pdf

FOOD ASSISTANCE SUPPORT

For those who are interested in joining up to discuss pantry needs, please join the Pantry Grid group on Signal: https://signal.group/#CjQKIKxPtDmS1—m-YJq4lrlTjyHxOSFezPymoCNby959p_REhCNZcKn-a3XLBLZ3cLGY_A_

Volunteer for food delivery to those who may be sheltering in place or to help in other ways. Get in touch with the following agencies:

Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) of Central Ohio, (614) 252-5362
Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS), (614)235-5747
Mid-Ohio Food Collective, (614) 277-FOOD (3663)
Our Helpers, (614) 733-9555

FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF FOOD:

La Plaza Tapitia International Grocery Store has been delivering food to people and families sheltering in place in the face of the threat from ICE. (255 Georgesville Rd, Columbus, OH 43228, (614) 276-0333)
Fronteras Mexican Cuisine on the Far East Side of Columbus asks customers to stay home and order takeout instead if they are worried, with digital options for ordering “designed solely to help you stay home safe while we take care of each other.”
Our Helpers offers direct grocery delivery due to recent immigration enforcement fear.
The Mid-Ohio Food Collective is offering a similar service for those who need it with a Letter of Proxy.

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MAGA’S AUTHORITARIAN AGENDA ON IMMIGRATION, FROM ASO COMMUNICATIONS

We must change public perception of the immigrant community and ensure we communicate effectively. Part of our job in protecting our communities is communicating why we must defend their belonging here—that immigrants are integral members of our churches, schools, neighborhoods, and families. Here are tips on messaging to those who need to listen.

Here to Stay_ How to Talk About Deportations in the US (c4).pdf

SUPPORT FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Donate to Fund for Immigration Legal Assistance (FILA)

When ICE takes a loved one, legal assistance is needed - and that can be expensive. The Universal Unitarian Church has established a fund to help cover these costs. The Fund for Immigration Legal Assistance (FILA) provides direct assistance to immigrants in Central Ohio in need of help.

Beneficiaries of the fund are residents of Central Ohio, with preference given to parent(s) of underage children, and young persons who fit within the DACA age guidelines.

FOR FAMILIES IN NEED OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS

Apply for Fund for Immigration Legal Assistance (FILA):

Applications are available in both Spanish and English.

2025 Spanish FILA Application
2025 English FILA Application

ASSISTANCE & INFO ABOUT HEALTH CARE OPTIONS

Health Care providers: Provider & patient rights in the face of ICE threat FROM THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER. Families, please share with your health care providers. https://www.nilc.org/resources/?work_tax%5B%5D=health-care&month-start=7&year-start=2009&month-end=12&year-end=2025