Welcome to CIRA Scope—news and insights focused on the work, initiatives and impact of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA). CIRA Scope offers a closer look for you to observe and zoom in on the people, partnerships, and progress happening in immigrant and refugee communities.
CIRA Legal experts strengthen Lexington relief efforts
March 17, 2026
LEXINGTON, Neb. — Legal experts from the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) joined community-wide efforts to support neighbors affected by the Tyson Foods plant closure by hosting a live legal clinic.
The plant had employed more than 3,000 employees until it shuttered in February, which left about a quarter of Lexington residents without a job. And without income, these individuals faced numerous other obstacles.
That led CIRA’s Community Engagement team into action by immediately connecting with Lexington community leaders to determine how CIRA could strengthen the relief efforts. provide recovery support.
In addition to the hotline for immigration assistance, the CIRA team hosts in-person legal clinics when community needs arise. At the beginning of every year, the CIRA Legal team plans its live intake events with a focus on hosting them in areas that have barriers to accessing legal services. This plan coincided with the news of the closure. And through the established connection, a live legal intake clinic was organized.
CIRA attorneys and Lexington community leaders decided February would be the best time to host the clinic “after the dust had settled” to allow Lexington communities time to emotionally and mentally recover.
“CIRA was able to alleviate some of the obstacles people in Lexington are facing by providing legal orientation and high-quality legal advice regarding attendees’ options under current immigration law,” CIRA Legal Director Roxana Cortes-Mills said.
Cortes-Mills and the rest of the Legal team learned some of the community members’ main concerns following this massive loss of employment.
Many were concerned about the ability to obtain new employment with a lack of work authorization. Others were concerned about the adverse impacts of receipt of public benefits, like unemployment, and its potential impact on their immigration options.
Those who could not receive immediate legal guidance were added to a waitlist to receive extended representation by a CIRA attorney or DOJ Accredited Representative.
Five CIRA legal experts made the three-hour trip to Lexington from Omaha during a winter storm warning to offer a friendly face, and options for stability: Lead Attorney Jenna Ripke, Access Specialist Jailene Alvarez-Gutierrez, Senior Attorney Luciano Ramirez Guerra, Attorney Michael Riggs and DOJ Accredited Representative Jaime Mendenhall.
The live, in-person clinic was held at the Lexington Public Library. CIRA DOJ Accredited Representative Ruth Maldonado, a longtime resident of Lexington, offered interpretation services and helped facilitate the space.
“Every family deserves a fair chance to succeed, and connecting people to resources is one of the first steps toward that future,” Maldonado said. “I felt I could help them toward a path to thrive using both my legal expertise as well as my community connections.”
Maldonado utilizes her relationships with community members and organizations to ensure Lexington residents are familiar with the extent of the services CIRA provides. That’s one reason why she said it’s important to her to be active in her community.
To ensure the comfort, security and accessibility of everyone who sought services at the legal clinic, four CIRA staffers offered virtual consultations: Attorney Alex Araya, Senior Attorney Vemexi Ruiz de Chavez, Lead Attorney Jacob Huju and Legal Director Cortes-Mills.
In 2022, Immigrant Legal Center and Refugee Empowerment Center merged, and the combined nonprofit organization is now CIRA, the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Advancement. Our diverse team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate legal representation, refugee services, and social work services. We take on the most complex immigration cases, resettle refugees from around the world, and ensure all clients have access to resources they need to live. Operating in 6 different offices from Council Bluffs to Scottsbluff, our team of more than 100 full-time employees helps communities welcome immigrants and refugees as they build their lives here. We assist with all forms of family and humanitarian-based immigration, and we never turn any family away due to inability to pay.
To empower immigrants and refugees to live confidently through high-quality legal representation, resettlement, and social work and to create welcoming communities through education and advocacy.
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