Immigration Resources in Los Angeles: Legal Help, Community Services, and Know Your Rights

Last Updated: February 2026

Los Angeles County is home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the United States. Whether you need legal assistance, community support, or simply want to understand your rights, this comprehensive resource guide is here to help.

With approximately 3.5 million foreign-born residents, Los Angeles County represents one of the most diverse regions in the world. Immigrants from Mexico, Central America, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond have built lives, businesses, and communities across the county — from East LA to the San Fernando Valley, from South LA to the Westside.

But navigating the immigration system can be overwhelming, and the current enforcement climate has left many families anxious and uncertain. This guide compiles the most important immigration resources available in Los Angeles County, including free and low-cost legal services, community organizations, consulate information, know-your-rights guidance, and California-specific protections that apply to you regardless of your immigration status.

Free and Low-Cost Immigration Legal Services in Los Angeles

If you need an immigration attorney but are concerned about cost, Los Angeles has numerous organizations that provide free or low-cost legal assistance.

CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights)

• Website: chirla.org
• Phone: (213) 353-1333 (CHIRLA hotline) or (888) 624-4752
• Services: Free immigration legal screenings, DACA renewals, citizenship workshops, naturalization assistance, deportation defense referrals, know-your-rights trainings
• Languages: English, Spanish
• Locations: Multiple locations across LA County
• Notes: One of the largest and most established immigrant rights organizations in Southern California. CHIRLA also conducts community education and advocacy work.

CARECEN (Central American Resource Center)

• Website: carecen-la.org
• Phone: (213) 385-7800
• Services: Immigration legal services including asylum, VAWA, SIJS, TPS, DACA, family petitions, naturalization, and removal defense
• Languages: English, Spanish
• Location: 2845 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90005
• Notes: Focused on the Central American community but serves all immigrants. Offers both legal and social services including workforce development and community organizing.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services

• Website: bettzedek.org
• Phone: (323) 939-0506
• Services: Free legal services for low-income individuals, including immigration relief for survivors of crime (U Visa, T Visa, VAWA), SIJS for abused/neglected children, and humanitarian immigration matters
• Languages: English, Spanish, and others through interpreter services
• Location: 3250 Wilshire Blvd., 13th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010
• Notes: Bet Tzedek is a well-respected legal aid organization that handles a wide range of civil legal matters. Their immigration practice focuses heavily on humanitarian cases.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)

• Website: lafla.org
• Phone: (800) 399-4529
• Services: Free civil legal services including immigration, housing, family law, and public benefits. Immigration services include removal defense, asylum, VAWA, SIJS, U/T Visas, TPS, and naturalization.
• Languages: English, Spanish, and others
• Locations: Multiple offices across LA County (serving all areas of Los Angeles)
• Notes: LAFLA is one of the largest legal aid organizations in the country, serving over 100,000 people annually.

Public Counsel

• Website: publiccounsel.org
• Phone: (213) 385-2977
• Services: Free legal services including immigration representation for children and families, deportation defense, asylum, SIJS, and other humanitarian relief
• Languages: English, Spanish
• Location: 610 S. Ardmore Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90005
• Notes: Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project provides direct representation and also trains pro bono attorneys to handle immigration cases.

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) — Los Angeles

• Website: supportkind.org
• Phone: (213) 670-4530
• Services: Free legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children, including asylum, SIJS, T/U Visas
• Languages: English, Spanish
• Notes: KIND focuses exclusively on children. If you know a child who arrived in the U.S. without a parent or guardian and needs legal help, KIND is a critical resource.

Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC)

• Website: icwclaw.org
• Phone: (213) 614-1165
• Services: Legal representation for immigrant women and children, including VAWA, asylum, SIJS, U/T Visas, and family-based petitions
• Languages: English, Spanish
• Locations: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other California offices

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles

• Website: catholiccharitiesla.org
• Phone: (213) 251-3400
• Services: Immigration legal services including naturalization, DACA, family petitions, and consultations
• Languages: English, Spanish

Community Organizations and Support Services

Beyond legal help, Los Angeles has a robust network of community organizations that serve immigrants with social services, education, workforce development, and more.

KIWA (Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance)

• Focuses on low-wage immigrant workers’ rights
• Provides know-your-rights trainings and workplace justice advocacy

NDLON (National Day Laborer Organizing Network)

• Headquartered in LA, advocates for day laborers and immigrant workers
• Community organizing and legal support referrals

LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs

• Coordinates county services for immigrant residents
• Provides information on county programs accessible regardless of immigration status

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)

• Civil rights organization focused on the Latino community
• Engages in litigation, advocacy, and community education on immigration-related issues

211 LA County

• Phone: Dial 2-1-1
• Website: 211la.org
• Connects residents with health and social services, including emergency food, shelter, healthcare, and legal referrals — available regardless of immigration status

Expert immigration legal guidance for LA County residents

Consulate Locations in Los Angeles

Consulates can help with passport renewals, identity documents, and connecting you with services from your home country. Below are key consulate locations in the Los Angeles area:

Los Angeles County Immigrant-Friendly Policies

Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles have adopted several policies designed to protect immigrant residents:

California State Protections for Immigrants

Regardless of where you live in California, state law provides important protections:

California Values Act (SB 54)

This law limits the ability of state and local law enforcement agencies to use resources for federal immigration enforcement. Police officers generally cannot ask about your immigration status during routine interactions or hold you for ICE based solely on a civil immigration detainer.

California SB 281 — Immigrant Tenant Protections

SB 281 prohibits landlords from disclosing or threatening to disclose a tenant’s immigration status as a form of retaliation or intimidation. If your landlord threatens to report you to ICE because you complained about unsafe living conditions or exercised your rights as a tenant, that is illegal in California.

AB 60 Driver’s Licenses

California allows all residents to obtain a driver’s license regardless of immigration status under AB 60. These licenses cannot be used for federal purposes but are valid for driving in California.

Education Rights

Under both California law and the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe (1982), all children have the right to attend public school regardless of immigration status. Schools cannot ask about a student’s or parent’s immigration status, and the California Department of Education has issued guidance reinforcing this protection.

Healthcare Access

• Medi-Cal: California has expanded Medi-Cal eligibility to all income-eligible residents regardless of immigration status (full-scope Medi-Cal).
• Emergency Medi-Cal: Available for emergency medical conditions regardless of immigration status.
• My Health LA: LA County program providing no-cost healthcare to uninsured, low-income residents who do not qualify for other coverage.
• Community Health Centers: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide care on a sliding-fee scale regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.

Workers’ Rights

All workers in California have the right to be paid at least the minimum wage, to work in safe conditions, and to be free from discrimination and harassment — regardless of immigration status. The California Labor Commissioner’s Office will investigate wage theft complaints without asking about immigration status.

Know Your Rights: What to Do If ICE Comes to Your Door

Understanding your rights is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family. Here is what you need to know:

What to Do If You Are Stopped by Police

• Stay calm and keep your hands visible
• You have the right to remain silent — you can say: “I choose to remain silent”
• In California (under SB 54), local police generally cannot hold you for ICE or ask about your immigration status during routine stops
• If you are arrested, ask for an attorney immediately
• Do not carry false documents

ICE Reporting and Rapid Response

• LA Rapid Response Network: (844) 343-1610 — Report ICE activity in your neighborhood
• United We Dream — MigraWatch: Report ICE sightings through the Notifica app
• CHIRLA Hotline: (888) 624-4752

How Bueno Immigration Serves Los Angeles

While Bueno Immigration’s physical offices are located in San Diego and San Rafael, we proudly serve clients throughout Los Angeles County and all of Southern California. Our team handles a full range of immigration matters for LA-area residents, including:

• Asylum and refugee protection
• VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) petitions
• Deportation defense and removal proceedings
• Family-based immigration
• General immigration legal services

We understand the unique challenges facing immigrant communities in Los Angeles, from navigating the massive LA immigration court backlog to dealing with the specific industries and communities where exploitation occurs. Our goal is to provide dedicated, compassionate legal guidance to every client.

Our team is ready to help LA-area immigrants with all their immigration legal needs

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The resources listed in this guide are provided for reference and may change over time — we encourage you to verify current information directly with each organization. Every immigration case is unique, and the information provided here may not apply to your specific situation. Reading this post does not create an attorney-client relationship with Bueno Immigration. For advice about your individual case, please contact our office to schedule a consultation. Immigration laws and policies are subject to change, and this post reflects the law as of the date of publication.