March 2025 Newsletter
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Thank you to all of you who have
supported La Posada in some way.
We would not be here without you!
Walking with Our Neighbors in Faith
In times of uncertainty, fear often takes hold in our neighborhoods. La Posada plays a vital role in being a place of refuge and support. As people of faith, we are called to walk alongside those in need, offering not just services but also compassion, dignity, and hope. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” – Hebrews 13:2
Rubi’s Work
Rubi Astello received her Department of Justice accreditation last fall and began seeing clients at the end of the year. She meets clients at the La Posada offices or through virtual connections. The first step is a $60 consultation to determine what the next steps will be, then clients choose whether to begin an application process, remain as they are, or be referred to an attorney for more complex legal filings. In the first two months of 2025, Rubi has had 8 formal consultations and begun five cases leading to requested actions by the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS). There are more phone calls where information and referrals are discussed. Unfortunately, there are also people who don’t respond or fail to arrive for appointments.
Citizenship Classes
Three sessions of citizenship classes were offered during 2024, all led by our instructor, Carrie Hartzler Bhandari, supported by Rose Rivera. The current group of students began their 13-week class in January and will finish in April. Several students take the class more than once to be sure they are prepared for their Citizenship interviews.
Supporting Our Immigrant Community in Changing Times
Immigration laws and policies are constantly evolving, and staying informed can be overwhelming. This has been true for many years, but in the last few months, there have been almost daily changes. As members of the CLINIC national network, we receive timely email updates from knowledgeable lawyers explaining the changes that are being made and how best to respond. Sometimes it is small things like changing almost every application form and not accepting older versions. Each time a filing is made, you now need to make sure you have downloaded today’s version of the form. At La Posada Immigrant Aid, we are committed to keeping our community updated and ensuring that those affected know their rights and have access to reliable information. Now more than ever, we invite our donors and congregations to help us spread the word about La Posada. If someone has questions about their immigration status, we are here to guide them.
Working together
La Posada does not work alone. We are grateful for the strong relationships we have with local organizations such as the Center for Healing and Hope and MCC Great Lakes. We are part of a much larger effort to meet the critical needs of the immigrant community. One pressing need is transportation for migrants who need to get to medical appointments, consular visits, or mental health services. Short-Term Partnering with Immigrant Neighbors (STPIN) is a local ad hoc effort to bring people and resources together to accompany local immigrants as they enrich our communities. You can click on the "Volunteer Form" button to open a form. People and resources volunteered here will be made available to local churches, schools, organizations, and service providers who are able to connect them with immigrants in need of services. Immigrants who are in need can fill out a transportation request form, and STPIN will work to connect them with resources to help. Many of you are doing your own important work in addition to supporting La Posada. Our service together is a gift from God that encourages us all.
Leadership
There have been significant leadership changes at La Posada over the past six months. Our founding president, Naun Cerrato, moved on to serve immigrants with a cooperating organization, Catholic Charities.
New President, Patty Gorostieta
Patty Gorostieta, agreed to step in and provide leadership as our new president. She is lives in Elkhart and serves as the Event Coordinator for the City of Elkhart.
Board of Directors
See all board members on the leadership page of this website.
Invitations Welcome
Each of the board members brings an important perspective to our work. One of the ways you can support La Posada is by inviting us to speak in your congregation, class, or other group. We can give a brief presentation in larger groups and be available to take questions in smaller sessions. We would also welcome a one-to-one visit from one of us if you want to learn more. Your support—whether through spreading awareness, volunteering, or donating—helps us continue this critical work. If you would like to contribute in any way, we would love to connect with you.
Finances
As you can see from the financial report below, La Posada began with two years of preparation followed by a year of operations in 2023 and a year of regrouping in 2024 as we brought on new staff and applied for reaccreditation.
The budget you see above reflects our plan to grow our services over nine months into full time operations for the rest of 2025 and beyond.
Looking Ahead
In 2025, we hope to expand our efforts in several key ways: • Distributing “Know Your Rights” cards to those who need them. • Increasing our staff hours to serve more clients. • Hosting community trainings to equip individuals and bystanders with the knowledge to support migrants. • Providing financial assistance (in addition to our subsidized fees) to those struggling with immigration-related fees.
How You Can Support Our Mission in 2025
We are so very grateful for the way you have supported us in the past. We need you to step up now so that we can continue to expand Rubi’s hours and the number of people we can serve. You can give online, including automatic monthly gifts, or by check.
Thank you!
