[Reforma_or] Seeking input: Immigration Resources and Legal Advocacy in Oregon Libraries OLA session

[Brandace Rojo]

Hello everyone,

First, I’d like to invite all of you to attend the "Welcoming Communities: Immigration Resources and Legal Advocacy in Oregon Libraries" OLA Conference session sponsored by the Reforma Oregon division and the Legislative Committee from 8:30–10 am on Thursday, April 24. A session description is at the end of this email.

This session will feature a panel of immigration attorneys and advocates who will share insights into Oregon’s immigration policies, legal advocacy partnerships, and best practices for serving immigrant patrons. To ensure the panel provides the most relevant and useful information, I’d love your input! If you have specific questions or topics you’d like the panelists to address, please share them with me by Wednesday, April 9. Your feedback will help shape the session and allow panelists to conduct research in advance, ensuring that attendees leave with actionable insights and a well-rounded resource toolkit.

Some of the topics already under consideration include:


  *   How are sanctuary laws upheld in Oregon?
  *   What are the chances ICE raids will become more common in Oregon, and are there areas that might be more heavily targeted?
  *   What is the Mexico Embraces You Program?
  *   What steps can noncitizens take to protect themselves and prepare their families in case of detention? What tools are available?
  *   What rights do U.S. citizens have if they are mistakenly detained?
  *   How can library workers in Oregon best support immigrant community members and local organizations?

Program Name: "Welcoming Communities: Immigration Resources and Legal Advocacy in Oregon Libraries"
Program Description: With Oregon’s immigrant populations growing and diversifying, libraries are increasingly relied upon as a first point of access for information, support, and connection. Yet, library staff often find themselves under-resourced or uncertain in responding to immigration-related questions and requests. In this session, co-sponsored by the Oregon Library Association’s Legislative Committee and REFORMA Oregon, attendees will gain valuable insights into current Oregon immigration policies, legal advocacy partnerships, and best practices for offering respectful, culturally responsive services. This program will feature an experienced immigration rights advocate who will cover the basics of immigration law relevant to libraries, share vetted resources, and discuss ways libraries can support immigrant patrons within legal boundaries. Participants will leave with a resource toolkit tailored to Oregon libraries, actionable strategies, and a clearer understanding of how to create welcoming, well-informed spaces for immigrant communities.

Thank you for your time and input—we appreciate your help in making this session as informative and impactful as possible and hope to see you there!

[cid:image001.png at 01DBA49E.970AB150]
Brandace Rojo (she/ella)
Communications & Partnership Manager
REFORMA Oregon Past President
Phone: 541-476-0571 x114  Fax: 541-479-0685
Email: brojo at josephinelibrary.org<mailto:brojo at josephinelibrary.org>
“En algún lugar de un libro, hay una frase esperándonos para darle sentido a la existencia.”
― Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote

The content of this email is confidential and intended for the recipient specified in message only. It is strictly forbidden to share any part of this message with any third party, without a written consent of the sender. If you received this message by mistake, please reply to this message and follow with its deletion, so that we can ensure such a mistake does not occur in the future.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/reforma_or/attachments/20250403/b3f0056d/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 5551 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/reforma_or/attachments/20250403/b3f0056d/attachment.png>