Our Story
In 2005, Diane Martinez moved to Santa Barbara into the Westside neighborhood. She soon realized that she was living among many immigrant neighbors who spoke mainly Spanish. Diane felt out of place and wanted to move someplace she felt comfortable, but her family circumstances did not allow this to happen. In asking God why she was in this neighborhood He started to show her His heart for the immigrant.
Over seven years of studying the Bible and working with many immigrant families, she came to know and love the families she had the honor to serve. God gave her His heart for the immigrant. In 2011, the Lord provided Shoreline Community Church with a vision to love our neighbors by providing immigration services.
Immigrant Hope Santa Barbara opened its doors in 2012 providing English and Civics classes for adults who wanted to naturalize to become U.S. Citizens and in 2014 received recognition from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide legal representations to immigrants putting in applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). God has been faithful in growing this ministry year after year allowing this ministry to increase the number of people served, the types of applications we can complete, and the education classes they provide.
Over seven years of studying the Bible and working with many immigrant families, she came to know and love the families she had the honor to serve. God gave her His heart for the immigrant. In 2011, the Lord provided Shoreline Community Church with a vision to love our neighbors by providing immigration services.
Immigrant Hope Santa Barbara opened its doors in 2012 providing English and Civics classes for adults who wanted to naturalize to become U.S. Citizens and in 2014 received recognition from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide legal representations to immigrants putting in applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). God has been faithful in growing this ministry year after year allowing this ministry to increase the number of people served, the types of applications we can complete, and the education classes they provide.
