Valley Neighbors

A great organization to support!

Greater Helena Gives is here! And it’s a powerful opportunity to make a real difference right here in Montana.

One of the most impactful ways to support immigrants in our state is simple: help ensure they have access to competent legal representation. Our immigration system is complex, and without guidance, many individuals and families struggle to understand their rights, their legal status, and the options available to them.

Helena plays a uniquely important role in this work. It is home to the only USCIS office in Montana, meaning people from across the state travel here to complete critical steps in their lawful immigration journeys. As attorneys, we are here alongside them: helping navigate paperwork, interviews, and life-changing decisions.

Helena is also home to an ICE office, where many individuals are required to report regularly to demonstrate they are complying with the law and actively pursuing their legal pathways. These moments matter. Having knowledgeable legal support can make all the difference in helping people stay on track and “do it the right way.”

By supporting Big Sky Immigration during Greater Helena Gives, you’re not just donating, you’re helping individuals and families build stable, lawful futures. Your support ensures we can continue providing essential legal services, guidance, and advocacy to those who need it most.

Join us in making a meaningful impact today!

In this time of opposition, the local community showed what it looks like to come together for our immigrants neighbors! Our April 24 Syrian Dinner Fundraiser at the Majestic Valley Arena! was our most successful to date, netting $10k for the important work of welcome. Participants had the opportunity to sample incredible Syrian home cooking--and no one left hungry! Immigrant neighbors from Syria and Venezuela told their stories of leaving their homes and coming to a new place, and shared how Valley Neighbors has made a difference in their lives. We are so grateful to all of the organizations, volunteers, and donors who made this incredible event happen! Thank you to the Flathead Valley!

Valley Neighbors assists local immigrants comply with urgent and timely immigration court requirements.

In one example, this week, a caseworker typed, printed, interpreted a pro se court filing and reviewed (language interpretation) it with an immigrant client. Finally, copies are mailed to the required recipients at a cost of $73.43. This process took several hours and represents a common client interaction.

While direct costs such as mailings or immigration fees are often negotiated with clients to the best of their abilities, Valley Neighbors does not charge for the time caseworkers spend assisting our neighbors.

Thank you to the ACLU of Montana for collaborating on a wonderful Know Your Rights event in Kalispell April 22. Thank you to Ashley Melwani (Managing Attorney at the International Rescue Committee in Montana), and ACLU Montana lawyers Akilah Deernose (Executive Director) and Alex Rate (Deputy Director/Legal Director), and ACLU support staff for a great event helping immigrant neighbors and allies better understand our legal constitutional rights.

We hope you're as excited as we are for Ouzi, a fragrant spiced rice dish served with peas and slivered almonds and topped with chicken thighs; Khyar Bi Laban, a refreshing cucumber and yogurt salad; and a Syrian-style chopped salad. Order your tickets using the link in the comments!

LOCATION CHANGE -- but still lots of delicious food! Link to order tickets in the comments.

If children from Montana are detained, they are generally sent to this facility. We cannot support a world where we imprison our children and young people and other injocent people. We must say no to this. We are doing irreparable harm to human beings.

Five months ago, Olivia was living in Maine with her family awaiting a final decision on their asylum case. She had recently graduated high school, and completed a certification to become a nurse’s assistant.

LOCATION CHANGE -- but still lots of delicious food! Link to order tickets in the comments.

Our popular fundraiser dinner is BACK. This year featuring Syrian cuisine! Click the link in the comments to buy your tickets before they run out. Tickets are $25 each, with an option to add an additional donation to support our work.

This British elderly woman and her husband were detained at the border to Canada and sent to Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, WA, for weeks. This is where most detained people from our community are sent. She details in agonizing detail what conditions are like there.

‘Don’t go to the US – not with Trump in charge’: the UK tourist with a valid visa detained by ICE for six weeks Karen Newton was in America on the trip of a lifetime when she was shackled, transported and held for weeks on end. With tourism to the US under increasing strain, she says, ‘If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone’

Read this report on the conditions of the family detention center in Dilley. Do not look away. Get angry and put it into action. No child should be subjected to imprisonment. This is a concentration camp. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/kids-arent-alright-in-dilley-immigrant-children-detention-deportation