Resource Corner

Know Your Rights Immigration Resources

 

Access valuable information and resources to empower California’s immigrant communities. Learn about your rights, legal protections, and the tools available to help you.

From the Office of California's Attorney General 

 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued two guidances to help California immigrants better understand their rights and protections under the law and avoid immigration scams by those seeking to take advantage of fear and uncertainty resulting from the President-elect’s inhumane threats of mass detention, arrests, and deportation. Click here for the full press release.

 

Know Your Immigration Rights and Protections Under the Law 

  • You have the right to apply for and secure housing without sharing your immigration status. California law prohibits housing providers from asking about your immigration status unless you are applying for affordable housing funded by the federal government. Additionally, housing providers cannot harass or intimidate you by threatening or sharing information about your immigration status to ICE, law enforcement, or other government agencies.
  • You have the right to access emergency medical care. Federal laws and regulations ensure the rights of all people to access emergency medical care, including undocumented immigrants.
  • You have the right to an attorney. If you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed attorney. If you are detained by ICE and/or are facing immigration proceedings, you have the right to seek legal assistance through an attorney. 
  • State and local law enforcement cannot ask for your immigration status. California law expressly prohibits law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes. 
  • State and local law enforcement cannot share your personal information. This includes sharing your home or work address for immigration purposes, unless that information is available to the public or unless that information involves previous criminal arrest, convictions or similar criminal history.

  • State and local law enforcement cannot assist ICE with immigration enforcement, with very limited exceptions. This means they cannot investigate, cannot interrogate, cannot arrest, and cannot detain you unless it is as part of joint federal task force where the primary purpose is not immigration enforcement.

     

The full “Know Your Immigration Rights” consumer alert is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

 

Protect Yourself from Immigration Scams

If you need help applying for immigration relief, be careful who you hire. Watch out for immigration scams that can cost you thousands of dollars and/or harm your immigration status! Here are some tips and resources to help: 

  • Go to a legitimate legal aid organization for free legal help. Many nonprofit organizations provide free immigration help to low-income individuals, such as those found through the resources below. To find a legal aid organization near you, go to lawhelpca.org. 
  • Keep your original documents in a safe place. Don’t give your original documents to anyone unless you see proof that the government requires the original document. If you give someone an original, they may lose it or refuse to return it unless you pay them.
  • Do not hire an immigration consultant or a notary. Only lawyers, accredited representatives, and recognized organizations can give you legal advice or represent you in immigration court. Immigration consultants – who may call themselves immigration experts, notarios, notaries public, or paralegals – cannot do so.

  • Do not give money or personal information to anyone who calls, texts, or emails you claiming that there is a problem with your immigration matter. No federal or state agency, including USCIS, will ever ask for your personal information or payment over the phone, by email, or text.

     

Access Free and Low-Cost Legal Assistance 

Visit Law Help CA or Immigration Law Help to find immigration assistance near you.

 

File a Complaint  

If you believe your rights have been violated, report it to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report. 

If you believe you were subject to discrimination, harassment or retaliation, report it to the California Civil Rights Department at calcivilrights.ca.gov/complaintprocess/.

 

 

 

Senate District 33 School Districts

 

Los Angeles Unified School District

The LA Unified 2025: We Are One campaign formalizes and amplifies the District’s efforts to cultivate welcoming learning environments for all students. 

Per the November 2024 LA Unified Board Resolutions, the District is a “sanctuary district” and safe zone for families threatened by immigration enforcement. The District has protocols for responding to immigration personnel requests for information about students, families, and staff.

LA Unified policies reaffirmed in November 2024 outline the following:

  • The District stands in unity with all of the students, families, and staff in our school communities and embraces Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion throughout the District.
  • The District will do everything in its power to protect and defend students, families, and staff, and will defend all students’ right to a public education.
  • Every District site will be a place of support and resources for all students and families, regardless of immigration status and any other protected groups in alignment with the District’s Nondiscrimination Policy.

  • To learn more visit: https://www.lausd.org/weareone 

     

Lynwood Unified School District 

All children in the United States, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, have a right to a free and appropriate public education free from discrimination, harassment and intimidation. Lynwood Unified School District is proud to be a Safe Haven District, committed to protecting our community and fostering a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

Learn about LUSD's response in the case that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appears at a Lynwood Unified school, and other proactive measures to protect families at: https://www.mylusd.org/apps/pages/Immigration-Resources  

 

 

 

California Resource Hub 

California has provided a resource hub for families and groups that engage immigrant families, such as schools, local governments, and community organizations. Click here to access the full webpage: https://www.ca.gov/immigration 

 

Non-discrimination

All students, including those who are undocumented or come from immigrant families, have the right to:

  • attend public school
  • participate in school activities

  • receive a quality education without discrimination

     

Safe school environment

  • Immigration enforcement officers: Schools are generally prohibited from voluntarily granting immigration enforcement officers access to campus. They need a judicial warrant or court order. 
  • Personal information:  Unless explicitly required by law, schools are prohibited from
    • requesting social security numbers
    • inquiring about the citizenship or immigration status of students, their parents, or guardians.

In 2024, Governor Newsom sent a letter to school leaders affirming California’s commitment to a safe environment for all students, including immigrant students and students from immigrant families.

Also in 2024, Attorney General Bonta issued updated guidance and model policies to assist California’s K-12 schools and higher education institutions in responding to immigration issues:

Confidentiality of student information

Schools must protect the privacy of their students. Schools are prohibited from sharing personal information about students or their family members for immigration-enforcement purposes. Immigration authorities must have a court order or judicial subpoena to receive information.

 

Immigration Legal Help

Legal help may be available from nonprofit organizations. Visit Service Provider Contact Information (Department of Social Services) for more information.

Be sure to avoid fraudulent immigration legal services. This includes non-attorneys who make promises about immigration benefits. Review more information from the California Department of Justice in English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese at oag.ca.gov/immigrant/resources.

Immigrant families who are concerned about immigration can develop a family preparedness plan. Visit Step-by-Step Family Preparedness Plan for community information developed by a nonprofit organization.

 

Community Hotline to Report Hate

All victims and witnesses of hate incidents and hate crimes can report and are eligible for free hotline support services. Visit California vs Hate or call 833-8-NO-HATE. California vs Hate is not affiliated with law enforcement, and you can report anonymously. If you are in present danger, call 911.

 

Report discrimination

If you or someone you know has been the victim of discrimination, you can File a discrimination complaint. The Civil Rights Department may be able to help. They also provide general information and fact sheets online about civil rights protections for the public. The Civil Rights Department has other resources for immigrant families.

 

For Help on Immigration Issues 

 

GENERAL

  • ACLU of Northern California | (415) 621-2488
  • ACLU of Southern California | (213) 977-5253

  • ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties | (619) 232-2121

     

LOS ANGELES REGION

  • Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles 
  • Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
  • Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM)
    • (213) 417-8390
    • https://www.cofem.org/
    • **Limited services, DOJ accreditation for naturalization, residency forms
  • Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)

 

NATIONAL (LIST COMPILED BY ACLU)

 

 

Other Helpful Links