Welcoming Our New Neighbors

Our world is facing an unprecedented humanitarian challenge in addressing the plight of millions of refugees fleeing war and persecution. Scripture and the heart of every faith tradition calls us to be compassionate, to welcome the stranger and to treat one another as we would want them to treat us.

In this July 17, 2014 photo, Kevin Torres, 7, plays on the front porch of his apartment building in Huntington Station, N.Y. Since arriving from El Salvador in May 2014, Torres lives with his mother in a two-story colonial divided into four different units. The house is rented by different immigrant families from different Central American countries. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
In this July 17, 2014 photo, Kevin Torres, 7, an unaccompanied child from El Salvador, plays on the front porch of his apartment building in Huntington Station, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

You will find many opportunities and resources on this page for individuals, families and faith communities to live out our faith in terms that will prove to be a blessing to us all.  Working together across the lines of faith, ethnicity, race and age adds depth to our lives and hope for a better future.  

See our Resource Guide “Welcoming Our New Neighbors Resource Guide Nov.2017” for 8 ways your community can get involved and other resources. (Published, June 2016 by the Faith Community Advisory Council).  Click on the links below for information and resources.

See the video describing our work from the “Welcoming Our New Neighbors:  Sharing Resources Meeting” held on Jan. 31, 2017.  The meeting was attended by over 120 people from over 40 faith communities.

Preparing for ICE Raids

We are being called by our County Executive, Marc Elrich, and County Council President, Maria Navarro, to help prepare Montgomery County for raids by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Here is their joint statement on Immigrant Support that affirms our values and deserves our active support. Below you will find ways to actively support immigrants and refugees.

Current and ongoing immigrant resources in Montgomery County (Updated daily)

Citizenship Tests (classes held in Montgomery County & Baltimore City)

For Montgomery College Questions: Contact Izis Weills, Program Aide 240-567-8839, izis.weills@montgomerycollege.edu

Legal Services

Donate: Make a financial contribution to support local nonprofits serving the immigrant population. Established by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region and its partners. Please indicate that you would like your donation allocated to Montgomery County for immigrants.