News & Views

A Family United

Maria* was in a constant state of panic, always crying and fearful. Every day, she woke up and thought about her children who were far away, perhaps angry with her, perhaps sad— every day Maria’s children seized her thoughts and every day they were not together would be another day Maria wouldn’t smile.

In 2003, Maria traveled to the United States from the suburbs of Colombia in an effort to leave a volatile, abusive relationship and support the three children she was leaving behind with her mother.

But life in the United States was not as she expected. Now married to an American citizen who abused her, Maria believed she was trapped in an unescapable cycle of violence.

In 2013, everything changed. She started working with legal staff at HIAS Pennsylvania where she learned her rights and received access to social service support. Maria learned to hope.

Maria was able to break the cycle of violence and protect herself against her abuser. HIAS Pennsylvania staff helped her get a U-Visa (a visa for immigrants who are victims of crimes). With it, she gained legal status to live and work in the U.S. and petition for her children to join her in the United States.

The day Maria was reunited with her children, the joy in the room was palpable.  Her children climbed all over their mother, and told her that they knew; they knew she was always thinking about them, always doing the best she could for them.

Maria smiled.

*Maria’s name has been changed.

TONIGHT (4/20) - Join us ONLINE at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!

Join us ONLINE at 6:45PM TONIGHT, Thursday, April 20th, for HIAS PA's 2023 Golden Door Awards: United for Immigrants!

Happy Passover from HIAS Pennsylvania!HIAS PA is closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover

HIAS Pennsylvania will be closed in observance of the Jewish holiday of Passover from 1PM on Wednesday, April 5th through Friday, April 7th, and on Wednesday, April 12th and Thursday, April 13th.

Join us at the 2023 Golden Door Awards!United for Immigrants

The Golden Door Awards is HIAS Pennsylvania's annual fundraiser. Your generous support helps us serve low-income immigrants from all over the world as they build new lives in our community.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

Building closed until further noticeHIAS PA remains open!

HIAS PA’s physical offices at 600 Chestnut Street are CLOSED until further notice due to a burst pipe in the building.

Our organization remains open, and HIAS PA staff continue to work remotely at this time.

Please call (215) 832-0900 with any questions.

TONIGHT: Join us at the table!Join us for Thankful Together!

Thankful Together, formerly known as Refugee Thanksgiving, is happening TONIGHT at 6PM!

Register here to join us tonight: https://hiaspa1.wpengine.com/event/thankful-together-2021/

Celebrate our volunteers who make this all possible!Click here at 11:45AM to join our Annual Meeting!

Click here to join our virtual Annual Meeting!

The Annual Meeting starts at noon, but join us at 11:45AM for an informal chat before the event!

POSTPONED! Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan

Today's Speed Advocacy: Afghanistan Facebook Live event has been postponed due to a worldwide Facebook outage. We will update you as soon as possible about rescheduling the event.