Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP)

Just got back early this morning from the Fund.AI event organized by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, GitLab Foundation, @Google dot org, and Fast Forward. The three of us panelists (Nithya Ramanathan, Swapna Reddy, and I) had a very good time talking about the challenges (and opportunities) in nonprofit AI, under the expert moderation of Shannon Farley of Fast Forward, who knows a lot about nonprofit AI. Chatham House Rule means I can't quote anyone, but we did talk about the need for shared infrastructure in the field, rather than each nonprofit building each piece (need roads as well as cars and trucks). It was a privilege to be part of this first-ever gathering of this type, at least that I am aware of. The excitement was there, even as the practitioners (and more than a few funders) talked about the many challenges of using AI ethically and effectively. #techforgood #AIforGood and, many thanks for the photo to Adam Rosenzweig!

👏 What an achievement! Congrats to Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) for reaching the milestone of serving 1 million asylum seekers in the U.S.! ASAP is dedicated to supporting asylum seekers and advocating for their rights at every step. Their work is essential in building a more welcoming and inclusive nation, and it's an honor to celebrate this incredible achievement with them. Keep up the amazing work! 🌟 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8suPGjH #Immigration #HumanRights #SocialImpact

One year later, we’re still fighting to #LetAsylumSeekersWork Our diverse coalition of partners, business, faith & elected leaders, impacted community members, & more are urging Congress to support the bipartisan House #AsylumSeekerWorkAuthorizationAct. The #ASWAA would bolster the workforce & provide families & communities security by allowing asylum seekers to access work permits sooner. 2,000+ people from across the country  have asked their members of Congress to support the bill. Learn more about the campaign and add your voice⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gWjaBN4e

I wanted to express how honored I was to celebrate the milestone with the ASAP team last night in NY. It truly was a remarkable evening, and I am very appreciative of what the team ASAP have done for asylum seekers here in united state. Your dedication and hard work make a significant difference, and I feel fortunate to be part of this nobel cause. Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP)

ASAP is on the verge of a milestone that we once thought impossible – serving 1 million asylum seekers in the U.S.! Last night, we came together with ASAP members, staff, board members, and long-time supporters to celebrate this major accomplishment -- and to hear from the incredible Evan Mawarire about his life's work and experience seeking asylum in the U.S. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has stood with ASAP and our asylum-seeking members since the beginning. Together, we will build a more welcoming United States with an immigration system that works.

Meet Swapna Reddy, co-founder of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) and alum of the Fast Forward Accelerator. With ASAP, Swapna is using tech to provide support to nearly 1M asylum seekers nationwide. In this alum spotlight from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Swapna shares: “One of the reasons that immigrants can be underserved in the United States is that immigrant-serving organizations are lagging behind in technical adoption...ASAP is doing things differently. We’re reaching asylum seekers online and using technology to help our members and their families navigate a complex immigration process.”

We stand with Haitian asylum seekers in Springfield and throughout the U.S. ASAP is proud to serve nearly 1000 Haitian asylum seekers who are living in Springfield, Ohio.

Take the time to read this profile about ASAP's Co-ED Swapna Reddy and how she used her background in tech and the law to scale our work to serve nearly 1 million asylum seekers. Thank you Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for lifting up Swapna's work at ASAP!

Have you registered for our 2024 National Convening yet? If you haven’t, there are only 18 days left until registration closes! Don’t miss out on some of the sector’s leading voices on immigrant justice who will join us in Detroit this October, including Conchita Cruz of Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), Mauri Balanta Jaramillo of AfroResistance, and Sharif Aly of International Refugee Assistance Project.  Time to register is winding down, so make sure to secure your convening spot today! ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e5fHJthh #GCIR2024 #DetroitLeads #DetroitMobilizing

Do You Know how hard it is to get a work permit? 🚨 As of March 2024, over 1.6 million people are waiting on work permits. Who are they? They're individuals eligible for lawful permanent resident status, survivors of gender-based violence, DACA recipients, asylum seekers, and more lawful newcomers. How long does it take? ⏳ Between 8 months to over a year! And it only takes about 12 minutes for an official to review a work permit application. Are more people applying? 📈 Absolutely! Approximately 550,000 spouses and children of U.S. citizens may soon join this growing backlog. Can USCIS overcome these backlogs? 💡 Yes, they can! In 2023, USCIS tackled the naturalization backlog. They have the blueprint and $34,374,000 in funding from Congress specifically for work permit processing. Steps to Take: 1. Increase Staff Capacity: 👥 Use the funds to hire contractors, authorize overtime, or request staff from other agencies. 2. Streamline Renewals: 🔄 Focus on new information, remove or refresh biometric requirements for renewals, most have to do fingerprinting and photos in-person. 3. Expand E-Filing: 💻 to include work permit applications for those needing fee waivers. 4. Extend Automatic Extensions: 🕒 Ensure no applicant loses work authorization by extending the period to 730 days. 5. Track Impact: 📊 Red tape is hurting our economy and workforce. It's time to track how many people are losing jobs and income because of backlogs. Upwardly Global is proud to join with nearly 200 organizations demanding the backlog be resolved by January 2025. Thanks to the leadership Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), American Immigration Lawyers Association, The Refugee Advocacy Lab #WorkPermits #USCIS