COVID-19 Resources for Immigrants and Refugees

Resources are available to all Oregonians including immigrants, refugees, and those under non-immigrant visa, deferred protections, or in the process of getting status. Throughout this page, click on any blue links to be routed to more information.

The Oregon Attorney General’s Office

  • The Oregon Attorney General Office (click here) serves all individuals regardless of immigration status or alienage. If you have questions, please call 503-378-6002. (government agency)
  • Call To Action: Sign the Oregon Attorney General’s COVID-19 Call to Action to stand together with the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities, who must always be treated with respect and must remain safe during this unprecedented pandemic that affects us all. To sign, click here. (government agency)
  • To report hate or bias confidentially and anonymously, contact: Oregon Department of Justice Hate Crimes and Bias Response Hotline – To report, call 1-844-924-BIAS (2427) (utilizing Language Link to report in over 240 languages). Dial 711 for Oregon Relay. To report online at StandAgainstHate.Oregon.gov (website reporting available in 8 languages), click here.  You can report an incident, or can you have someone report an incident for you. (government agency)
  • Other city programs to report hate or bias:

To report COVID-19 outbreak-related fraud or schemes

Providing information and combatting misinformation about COVID-19/novel coronavirus

Health care and health benefits

  • If you are a low-income Oregon resident, but you are not a United States citizen, you may still be eligible for the regular medical care programs offered by the state of Oregon, called Oregon Health Plan (OHP). It depends on your immigration status. Apply by clicking here », or call 1-800-699-9075 or 711 (TTY) with any questions.  (government agency)
  • OHP also has a program for emergency medical care for non-citizens called Citizen Alien Waived Emergent Medical », or CAWEM. This is a benefit package that covers emergency medical services only, including COVID-19 related illness. You should not wait for an emergency. You may apply for CAWEM at any time.  Call 1-800-359-9517 to apply.  Available in English, Spanish, Russian via direct call, and many other languages via an interpretation service.  (government agency)
  • The civil legal aid programs in Oregon operate the Oregon Public Benefits Hotline », where low-income Oregonians can talk to lawyers and paralegals for advice on public benefits. Click here » or call 1-800-520-5292. (community organization)

Community-based resources for COVID-19
(Click on any blue links to be routed to the agency’s resource page.)

Unemployment, Layoff and Closure Assistance
(Click on any blue links to be routed to the agency’s website.)

  • Noncitizen, laid-off workers who are authorized to work in the United States may apply for unemployment insurance benefits. Persons who are undocumented should not file for unemployment benefits. The State of Oregon Employment Department » provides additional information about filing for unemployment as a noncitizen.  You can call 1-800-237-3710 or email OED_UI_Info@oregon.gov or OED_COVID19_Info@oregon.gov.  Unemployment benefits do not count for Public Charge decisions with USCIS.  In addition, noncitizen, laid-off workers who are authorized to work in the United States may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) on the CARES Act​ page ».  Additional resources and guidance for employers, workers, and job seekers can be found on Oregon Employment Department’s COVID-19 page ».  (government agency)
  • The civil legal aid programs in Oregon operate the Oregon Public Benefits Hotline », where low-income Oregonians can talk to lawyers and paralegals for advice on public benefits including Unemployment Benefits.
    1-800-520-5292
    (community organization)

Federal stimulus payments to individuals and families
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

  • The recently passed federal stimulus bill, called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, provides one-time cash payments » of $1,200 for individuals, $2,400 for taxpayers filing jointly, and $500 per child, in the form of an advanced tax rebate for families who meet income qualifications. Noncitizens who have valid social security numbers and file taxes as “resident aliens” may be eligible for these payments. You can contact the IRS COVID-19 Economic Payment Assistance hotline at 1-800-919-9835. (government agency)

The National Immigration Law Center has more information » here on the impact of the CARES Act and other recent federal legislation on immigrant communities, and you can call them at 213-639-3900.  (community organization)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

  • USCIS has issued guidance » encouraging everyone with symptoms that resemble COVID-19 to seek necessary medical care. USCIS (website here ») has said that COVID-19 tests and treatment will not be considered for Public Charge decisions.  (government agency)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) information
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Immigration/Refugee Defense:
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Housing
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Many cities and counties are changing their policies or adding resources to help renters and people experiencing houselessness; local government websites have more information.

Small business assistance
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Food
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Childcare
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Technology and Mobile Phone Services
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Most companies are waiving late fees and suspending data usage limits due to COVID-19, including:

Utilities
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Local companies will suspend shutoffs due to late payments or if you are unable to pay. Please contact your utility company to discuss options.

Legal Help and Crime Victim Information
(Click on any blue links to be routed to more information.)

Disclaimer

The links provided on this webpage are for information only.  Not all content reflects the views of the Oregon Attorney General or Oregon Department of Justice.  Resources are not vetted or otherwise endorsed by the AG or DOJ.  Do not rely on this webpage as the sole source of resources available.  Please contact 503-378-6002 to submit suggested additional resources for posting.