Dreams for a better life – one out of the shadows with the promise of greater economic vitality for individuals and the region as a whole – were deferred today. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 4-4 on the Obama Administration’s immigration executive actions that would have expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and created Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA). The United States v. Texas case will now be sent back to the Texas district court to determine whether the programs are constitutional. The programs were meant to preserve families and give parents of U.S. citizens and those who came to the United States as children the power to earn their own living. In Los Angeles County alone, nearly 500,000 immigrants are eligible to apply. Today’s ruling leaves hardworking families in the shadows and living under the fear of deportation and separation. It leaves fewer residents with the ability to buy homes, make better wages and fully participate in our civic and economic fabric. Reflecting our missions to ensure a more prosperous future for all Los Angeles residents, we stand united to continue supporting immigrant integration efforts during these challenging times. We will support organizations that provide vital services to children and families in need and ensure that they are not exploited or defrauded. While this decision is a temporary setback, we will continue to partner with stakeholders across sectors to push for immigration reform that upholds the dignity of all communities and families. California Community Foundation The California Endowment The James Irvine Foundation Weingart Foundation
Over 300,000 Asian Immigrants in L.A. County Currently Eligible to Naturalize and Become a U.S. Citizen Eligible immigrants strongly urged to take the first step now to have a chance of becoming a U.S. citizen before November election LOS ANGELES – Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-LA), in close partnership with community-based organizations and local government, announced an unprecedented campaign to encourage and increase the number of Asian American immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship. Community based organizations serving the Asian American community will receive additional funding and support to process citizenship applications. In addition, Asian ethnic media will be invited to join the effort as official campaign partners, to promote the benefits of citizenship. In Los Angeles County, over 300,000 Asian American immigrants are currently legal permanent residents who are eligible to naturalize and become U.S. citizens. “The United States was founded by immigrants and continues to thrive because of the contributions of immigrants,” said Stewart Kwoh, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA. “For many Asian Americans, the risk of leaving their native countries in pursuit of better opportunities outweighed all their fears of the unknown. Today, we are launching ‘Endless Possibilities. Citizenship Now!’ in seven Asian languages, drawing on an unprecedented partnership between nonprofits, government, and media, with the purpose of reminding immigrants that citizenship is a pathway to the many benefits and opportunities many hoped to achieve for themselves and their families by coming to America.” “More than 1 million people in Los Angeles County speak an Asian language and their main source of information is ethnic and in-language media. We are asking that our Asian-language media step forward to be a part of this campaign, alongside our nonprofit partners, government agencies, and elected officials who are leveraging their collective voice to raise awareness about the opportunities and resources available to anyone who is eligible and interested in becoming a United States citizen,” said Nasim Khansari, Citizenship Project Director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice – LA. “Not only are media critical to informing our communities about what they need to know, but media can also empower our community to achieve what they may not know is possible.” “Endless Possibilities. Citizenship Now!” is a coordinated effort of more than 10 nonprofit organizations serving multi-ethnic communities as well as government agencies and the offices of elected officials. The first partnership event is a free citizenship workshop taking place on Sunday, April 10th at the Long Beach Convention Center. For an appointment, call the Advancing Justice-LA helpline: English 888-349-9695 Mandarin/Cantonese 800-520-2356 Khmer 800-867-3126 Korean 800-867-3640 Tagalog 855-300-2552 Thai 800-914-9583 Vietnamese 800-267-7395 All who are interested in citizenship assistance or legal services are encouraged to call the toll-free helpline service. Callers can reach helpline staff between 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. When unable to speak with a live helpline staff, callers are encouraged to leave a voicemail message including their name and contact information. Calls will be returned within one business day. The campaign is made possible through funding and support from the California Community Foundation in an effort to break down the myths and barriers preventing more L.A. County residents from applying. “Endless Possibilities. Citizenship Now!” is a coordinated campaign operating in conjunction with ¡Protégete!…¡Ciudadanía Ya!, a campaign taking place in Spanish-language media and is led by a strong coalition that includes Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles and several other nonprofit organizations. CONTACT: Randy Bunnao, 213-241-0227 rbunnao@advancingjustice-la.org Lisa Thong, 310-289-5526 lisa.thong@iwgroupinc.com
Major L.A. immigrant rights organizations, leading Spanish-language media and the City and County have joined forces today to promote citizenship.
CCF has partnered to raise $847,255 for nonprofit organizations on the front lines of caring for refugee youth in Los Angeles County.
CCF announces a significant addition to its management team with the hiring of Efrain Escobedo as vice president of civic engagement and public policy.