Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs

06/12/2026

As Seattle welcomes the World for the World Cup, the Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) and Mayor Katie B. Wilson invite you to a special Immigrant Heritage Month celebration at Seattle City Hall.

This event will be held at City Hall on June 18, 2026, from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.

We would be honored to have you join us as the City of Seattle and Mayor Wilson recognize the contributions, resilience and joy of immigrant communities in Seattle, as well as the advocacy that made OIRA’s funding possible. This event will feature:

- Welcoming remarks by Mayor Katie B. Wilson and the signing of an Immigrant Heritage Month Proclamation
- Remarks by OIRA Acting Director Cuc Vu about OIRA’s $4 million investment portfolio
- Community testimonials
- Lunch and mingling with community members

RSVP here: https://forms.office.com/g/J1BU5JV6eZ

06/10/2026

If you have questions about our new RFP for English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, be sure to check out our updated frequently asked questions document in the blog post below to help guide you through your application!

The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is seeking proposals to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes (Level 1 – Level 3) classes with accompanying digital literacy curriculum to low-income English Language Learners (ELL). Awarded organizations will provide services to low-income adults who live, work, attend school, or own a business in Seattle.

For this program, OIRA intends to award organizations up to $200,000 for a 12-month contract period. The deadline to submit through the City's Fluxx platform is 5:00 pm, Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

In 2026, the Seattle City Council adopted a $4 million ongoing addition to the budget of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) to strengthen critical services for Seattle’s immigrant and refugee communities. This funding comes in recognition of the recent federal funding loss for ESOL...

06/05/2026

OIRA is excited to share a new funding opportunity meant to increase pathways for ESOL education!

For immigrants arriving in the United States, learning English is a huge step toward building a new life and contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of our communities. English proficiency brings economic opportunity, social integration, access to essential services, and personal confidence. In addition to learning grammar and vocabulary, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education provides a comprehensive support system designed to help English Language Learners (ELL) navigate their new environment and achieve their full potential.

The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is seeking proposals to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes (Level 1 - Level 3) classes with accompanying digital literacy curriculum to low-income English Language Learners (ELL). Awarded organizations will provide services to low-income adults who live, work, attend school, or own a business in Seattle.

OIRA intends to award a total of $485,000 for 12-month contract periods in this RFP, and the submission deadline is Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 5:00pm.

Learn more about OIRA’s new funding opportunities and apply at the link in our bio!

06/02/2026

The City of Seattle is planning a citywide series of community activations and celebration events leading up to and during the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing the excitement and spirit of the games to neighborhoods across Seattle and creating free and low-cost opportunities for communities throughout the city to join in the celebration.

As one of 16 host cities across North America, Seattle will welcome visitors from around the world in summer 2026. Multiple City departments are partnering to create inclusive, family-friendly, and community-centered opportunities for residents to celebrate soccer, culture, and civic pride throughout the tournament.

The City’s activation efforts are being led in partnership by Office of Arts & Culture Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Over 80 arts and culture events across the city this summer SEATTLE, WA (May 26, 2026) – The City of Seattle is planning a citywide series of community activations and celebration events leading up to and during the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing the excitement and spirit of the games to neighborho...

05/22/2026

OIRA is excited to announce a new funding opportunity meant to increase pathways for ESOL education!

For immigrants arriving in the United States, learning English is a huge step toward building a new life and contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of our communities. English proficiency brings economic opportunity, social integration, access to essential services, and personal confidence. In addition to learning grammar and vocabulary, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education provides a comprehensive support system designed to help English Language Learners (ELL) navigate their new environment and achieve their full potential.

The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is seeking proposals to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes (Level 1 - Level 3) classes with accompanying digital literacy curriculum to low-income English Language Learners (ELL). Awarded organizations will provide services to low-income adults who live, work, attend school, or own a business in Seattle.

OIRA intends to award a total of $485,000 for 12-month contract periods in this RFP, and the submission deadline is Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 5:00pm.

Learn more and apply for the ESOL RFP here:

In 2026, the Seattle City Council adopted a $4 million ongoing addition to the budget of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) to strengthen critical services for Seattle’s immigrant and refugee communities. This funding comes in recognition of the recent federal funding loss for ESOL...

05/19/2026

The Office of Mayor Katie B. Wilson (MO), the Seattle Police Department (SPD), and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) invite you to a virtual community briefing on public safety and the FIFA World Cup with a focus on immigrant communities.

There will be two identical 1.5-hour virtual briefings on Thursday, May 21 at 1PM and Wednesday, May 27 at 6PM.

These briefings will feature speakers from the MO, SPD and OIRA, and will cover:

- SPD’s Role during the tournament, protest protocols, venue, neighborhood and public space security measures
- The Federal role in international sporting events like FIFA World Cup
- What the City can and cannot do on Federal Enforcement
- Language access navigation during the tournament

For the May 21st briefing, please register here: https://forms.office.com/g/qzCbtQBNQN

05/18/2026

Our small grants opportunity is open to apply to! OIRA is seeking to enter into one-time contracts with community groups and organizations to provide community aid for basic needs, Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations/community information sessions, family safety planning; offering resources, education, and tools to empower communities in Seattle. Learn more and apply at the the link below, which also features a regularly updated FAQ about the program!

You can download an editable version of the RFP application here: You can access the slideshow presentation from the April 14 information sessions here: OIRA is tracking all questions submitted to us about this RFP. This is the current list of questions and answers related to the 2026 Rapid Response...

05/12/2026

The City of Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson's Office (MO), the Seattle Police Department (SPD), and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) invite you to a virtual community briefing on public safety and the FIFA World Cup with a focus on immigrant communities.

There will be two identical 1.5-hour virtual briefings on Thursday, May 21 at1PM and Wednesday, May 27 at 6PM. Please register for one depending on your availability. These briefings will feature speakers from the MO, SPD and OIRA, and will cover:

- SPD’s Role during the tournament, protest protocols, venue, neighborhood and public space security measures

- The Federal role in international sporting events like FIFA World Cup

- What the City can and cannot do on Federal Enforcement

- Language access navigation during the tournament

For the May 21st briefing, please register here: https://forms.office.com/g/qzCbtQBNQN

For the May 27th briefing, please register here: https://forms.office.com/g/iXKg8tCDct

05/04/2026

It's the last few days to sign up for our Know Your Rights training for business owners and employers with Seattle Office of Economic Development and Seattle Office of Labor Standards!

The Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Seattle Office of Economic Development and Seattle Office of Labor Standards are hosting a virtual Know Your Rights Training for business owners and employers on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 1pm to 3pm.

This training is designed to inform business owners and employers about how to ensure compliance with existing immigration regulations and how to protect your workplace. Immigration attorney, Adam Boyd from Gibbs Houston Pauw, will be joining as the main presenter.

An RSVP is required to attend this training. Please register here by May 7th: https://forms.office.com/g/T30a135H4S

05/02/2026