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The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), part of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, has awarded $1.5 million to Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project in partnership with Amanecer Community Counseling Services and Asian Americans Advancing Justice to provide mobile legal and case management services. This initiative supports both recent arrivals and long-term immigrants currently in the emergency shelter and transitional housing systems, as well as other vulnerable immigrant populations at risk of homelessness across Los Angeles County. The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) will oversee the program’s implementation.

We are pleased to roll out this program, which aligns with our mission to advance immigrant equity and fosters opportunities for immigrants to access essential services, enhancing their well-being and stability within the community. The consortium will begin offering services under this program in January 2025.

For more information and updates, please visit the CNM website.

21 nonprofits to receive grants to support successful legal outcomes for immigrants

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) in the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has announced a second cohort of awardees for its Capacity Strengthening Grants for Immigrant Focused CBOs initiative. 21 community-based organizations (CBOs) will be awarded grants totaling $3.15 million to provide case management services to support successful legal outcomes for immigrants. The pandemic highlighted the importance of providing case management alongside legal representation to ensure access to vital services for immigrant communities who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, organizations will receive grants of $150,000 to build case management capacity. The Center for Nonprofit Management is the subrecipient that administers the project for the County and will augment grant funding with specialized training and ongoing support to grantees to maximize project impact.

In 2022, OIA announced $1.5 million in grants to a cohort of 10 immigrant-focused CBOs focused on helping immigrants and their families recover from the COVID-19 pandemic through various capacity building projects. Learn about the first cohort here. The second round of grants brings the total CBO capacity building investment to $4.65 million.

The following organizations were awarded:

• The African Communities Public Health Coalition (ACPHC) addresses mental health, social service and legal needs of African immigrant communities in Los Angeles.
• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles– Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project advocates for social justice and provides a legal defense program for immigrants.
• Central American Resource Center of California (CARECEN) empowers Central Americans and all immigrants by defending human and civil rights, working for social and economic justice, and promoting cultural diversity.
• The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA) advances immigrant integration through education, legal services, and civic engagement.
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) upholds the civil rights of all Americans, with a focus on discrimination and challenges faced by American Muslims in the Greater Los Angeles area.
• Human Rights First fosters free and equal societies worldwide, emphasizing respect for human rights and the rule of law.
• Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) is a social justice law firm that defends immigrant communities against injustices in the immigration system.
• The International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA) fosters self-sufficiency and promotes cross-cultural understanding by providing services to immigrants, refugees, survivors of human trafficking, and low-income working families.
• Korean Youth + Community Center (KYCC) serves the evolving needs of the Korean American population and the multi-ethnic Koreatown community in the Greater Los Angeles area.
• The Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (LACLJ) secures justice for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, empowering them for a safe and stable future.
• The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers comprehensive services and support to the region’s LGBTQ communities.
• The Los Angeles Mission provides comprehensive services, housing, and case management to unhoused and vulnerable residents of Los Angeles.
• The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) empowers day laborers, migrants, and low-wage workers to challenge injustice and advocate for expanded labor, civil, and political rights.
• Pars Equality Center catalyzes the social, civic, and economic integration of refugees and immigrants from Middle Eastern and other underrepresented communities into American society.
• The Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) offers education and legal assistance to Filipinx and other immigrant workers on worker rights, workplace violations, labor trafficking, and immigrant issues.
• The Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (PEOC), a worker center with a grassroots organizing model, empowers low-wage, immigrant workers in Pomona and Inland Empire.
• Program for Torture Victims (PTV) provides holistic health and wellness programs to immigrant survivors of torture and persecution.
• Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice in and beyond Los Angeles. Its Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP) provides legal defense of and systemic advocacy on behalf of LA’s immigrant community.
• SALVA offers a range of immigration services in Los Angeles County through cultural sensitivity and holistic support.
• The Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC) advances the social and economic well-being of low- and moderate-income Thais and other ethnic communities in the Greater Los Angeles area through a broad and comprehensive community development strategy.
• Worksite Wellness LA (WWLA) educates individuals and families, regardless of immigration status, on healthy living and healthcare benefits through workplace and community programs.

For more information about the initiative, visit https://cnmsocal.org/capacity-strengthening-grants-for-immigrant-focused-cbos-cohort-b/. For more resources and information provided by the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs, visit immigrants.lacounty.gov.

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) has provided critical investigative work to assist the Office of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in charging a 56-year-old woman with scamming more than a dozen immigrants by pretending to be a consultant — and at times — an attorney.

Nubia Esmeralda Burrier was charged with 10 counts of grand theft and one count of first-degree residential burglary with a person present. For the past 14 years, Burrier met with victims at her office across the street from the U.S. Immigration Court. She allegedly filed for political asylum on their behalf, even though she knew they were not eligible. She is also accused of rendering services never provided.

The case remains under investigation by the District Attorney’s Economic Justice and Notario Fraud Unit and DCBA, if you believe you have been defrauded, call the DCBA hotline at (800) 593-8222.

“We have seen time and time again predatory practices against the most vulnerable victims,” District Attorney Gascón said. “This person allegedly preyed upon immigrants who lacked the sophistication to navigate the immigration system. She was repeatedly told she could not legally provide immigration services, but, nevertheless, she ignored these warnings. These kinds of crimes cheat unassuming people out of their hard-earned money and endanger their immigration status.”

“This allegation proves that scams, fraud and abuse occur everywhere, and we urge the public to be extra vigilant of bad actors seeking to take advantage of people seeking help,” said DCBA Director Rafael Carbajal. “We encourage you to contact DCBA, if ever in doubt, to ensure that a provider is legitimate, for tips to prevent abuse, and for free resources available to County residents, including immigration defense.”

In total, Burrier allegedly stole $127,150 from 17 victims.

Read the District Attorney’s press release for more details in the case.

For clients of Nubia Esmeralda Burrier seeking to secure their client files, please call the State Bar’s bilingual phone line at (213) 765-1747.

Trabajo Investigativo del DCBA Ayuda Presentar Cargos Contra Servicios Fraudulentos de Inmigración

LOS ÁNGELES –  El Departamento de Servicios para Consumidores y Negocios (DCBA, las siglas en inglés) como parte de su cargo proveo asistencia investigativa para asistir la oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Los Ángeles George Gascón presentar cargos contra una mujer de 56 años por estafar más de una docena de inmigrantes por hacerse pasar como consultante autorizada y hasta a veces como abogada.

Nubia Esmeralda Burrier enfrenta 10 cargos en su contra de gran robo y un cargo de robo en primer grado residencial con persona presente. Durante los últimos 14 años, Burrier se reunió con víctimas en su oficina al otro lado de la calle de la Corte de Inmigración de los Estados Unidos. Se alega qué entregó peticiones de asilo político de parte de sus víctimas, aunque sabía que no eran elegibles para este beneficio migratorio. También es acusada de cobrar por servicios que nunca rindió.

El caso sigue bajo investigación de la Unidad de Fraude Notario y Justicia Económica del Fiscal de Distrito y DCBA. Si piensa que ha sido víctima de fraude, llame a la línea telefónica de DCBA al (800) 593-8222.

“Hemos visto tiempo tras tiempo prácticas predatorias contra las víctimas más vulnerables,” dijo el Fiscal Gascón. “Se alega que esta persona se aprovechó de los inmigrantes que no tenían el entendimiento para navegar el sistema migratorio. Se le avisó repetidamente que no podía proveer servicios de inmigración legalmente pero aún ignoro estas advertencias. Este tipo de crimen roba a personas modestas de su dinero que tanto les costó ganar y ponen en peligro su estado migratorio.”

“Esta alegación es prueba que estas estafas, fraude, y abuso ocurre en todos los lugares y se le urge al público más vigilancia de actores que buscan aprovecharse de la comunidad que busca ayuda,” dijo el Director del DCBA Rafael Carbajal. “Pedimos que se comuniquen con DCBA si tiene cualquier duda para asegurar que un proveedor es legítimo, información para prevenir abusos, y para servicios disponibles para los residentes del condado, incluso asesoramiento legal migratorio.”

En total, se alega que Burrier robó $127,150 de 17 víctimas.

Lea el comunicado del Fiscal para más detalles.

Para los clientes de Nubia Esmeralda Burrier que buscan obtener sus archivos de clientes, llame a la línea telefónica bilingüe del State Bar al (213) 765-1747.

The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), in the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), stands ready to assist the immigrant detainees and family members who might be affected by a recent data breach by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, ICE posted to its website the names, birthdates, nationalities and detention locations of more than 6,000 people who are seeking asylum and currently in ICE custody.

This data breach could potentially endanger the safety of the people seeking asylum and their families. In a statement, ICE said they will be notifying the attorneys of the affected immigrants or the immigrants themselves of this data breach.

Immigrant detainees directly affected by this breach, and all immigrants in custody, should have access to reliable legal representation. In any immigration matter, it is important that immigrants receive advice and services only from a licensed attorney or federally accredited representative. Through the RepresentLA Program, OIA can help refer immigrants and their families in Los Angeles County to free or low-cost immigration legal services.

You can reach the Office of Immigrant Affairs by phone at 800-593-8222 or by visiting immigrants.lacounty.gov.

In high-profile cases of this nature, scammers will often to try to take advantage of uncertainty or disinformation to steal money or personal information from concerned people. For example, a scammer might try to reach out to a family member or someone else associated with an affected asylee to offer phony legal assistance. Others may use scare tactics to convince uninvolved immigrants that the data breach was more widespread.

Always work directly with licensed legal representatives and ignore unsolicited offers for assistance.

During any data breach, people directly affected and anyone else whose information might be compromised second-hand should take steps to protect their personal and financial information from possible identity theft. If applicable, review your credit report closely and consider a fraud alert if you believe your information has been stolen.

Contact DCBA at 800-593-8222 or visit dcba.lacounty.gov for more information about reducing the risk of identity theft.

La oficina de los asuntos de inmigrantes del condado de Los Ángeles ofrece apoyo para inmigrantes detenidos afectados por la filtración de datos  

La Oficina de Asuntos de Inmigrantes del Condado de Los Ángeles (OIA) en el Departamento de Asuntos al Consumidor y Negocios (DCBA) están listos para asistir inmigrantes detenidos y sus familiares afectados por la filtración de datos recientemente por el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE. UU. (ICE por sus siglas en inglés). De acuerdo de un reporte del periódico Los Angeles Times, ICE publicó los nombres, fechas de nacimiento, nacionalidades y ubicación de detención de más de 6000 personas en búsqueda de asilo o cuál están bajo custodia de ICE. 

Esta filtración de datos podrá exponer y peligrar la seguridad de los individuales aplicando por asilo y sus familias. ICE aviso que se comunicarán con los abogados de los inmigrantes afectados o los individuos mismos sobre la filtración de datos. 

Los detenidos afectados directamente por este incumplimiento y todos los inmigrantes en custodia deben de tener representación legal fidedigno. En cualquier asunto de inmigración es importante qué inmigrantes reciban servicios y aviso legal solamente de abogados licenciados o representantes acreditados al nivel federal. A través del programa RepresentLA, la oficina OIA puede ayudar referir inmigrantes y sus familias en el condado de Los Ángeles a servicios legales de inmigración gratis o de bajo costo. 

Se puede comunicar con la oficina de los asuntos de inmigrantes por teléfono al 800-593-8222 o por visitando immigrants.lacounty.gov. 

En casos de alto interés público de este tipo estafadores intentarán de aprovecharse de la incertidumbre o falta de información para robar dinero o información personal de las personas preocupadas. Por ejemplo, un estafador puede comunicarse con un miembro familiar o alguien asociado con un asilado afectado para proveer asistencia fraudulenta. Otros quizás usen tácticas para asustar y convencer a inmigrantes no afectados, que la filtración de datos ha afectado mucha más gente. 

Siempre trabaje directamente con representantes legales licenciados y no le haga caso a ofertas de asistencia que no ha solicitado. 

Durante cualquier filtración de datos los afectados directamente y otros cuya información ha sido comprometida debería tomar pasos para proteger su información personal y financiera contra posible robo de identidad. Si le aplica revise su reporte de crédito cuidadosamente y considere una alerta de fraude si cree que sus datos e información han sido robados. 

Comuníquese con DCBA al 800-593-8222 o visite dcba.lacounty.gov para más información para reducir el riesgo del robo de identidad. 

Ten nonprofits to receive first round of grants to strengthen their capacity to serve the County’s immigrant communities

MAY 2024 UPDATE — 21 groups received awards in a second round of capacity building grants. READ MORE

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), in the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), celebrates National Immigrants Day on Friday, October 28, 2022, by recognizing 10 immigrant-focused Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that are receiving capacity-strengthening grants made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Each organization will receive two-year grants of $150,000 and technical assistance as part of OIA’s Capacity Strengthening Grants for Immigrant Focused CBOs initiative.

These grants are the first round of OIA’s efforts to support CBOs that are focused on helping immigrants and their families recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. As more funds become available, OIA plans to provide similar grants to CBOs that serve immigrants throughout the LA County.

“Through the Office of Immigrant Affairs and ARP Act investments, we are ensuring that the vibrant communities we serve are able to thrive as we recover from the pandemic,” said DCBA’s Director Rafael Carbajal. “We look forward to the successful implementation of every recipient-organizations’ projects to advance our mutual missions.”

“The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) is honored to work with OIA and this group of nonprofit leaders over the next two years to build new skills and support their efforts to serve the many immigrant communities that enrich LA County and improve lives for so many,” said Regina Birdsell, CNM President and CEO.

Grants were made to the following immigrant-focused organizations for the following purposes:

• Al Otro Lado will expand and restructure case management services by hiring a social worker to focus on LGBTQ+, disabled, indigent, Kreyol-speaking, Indigenous language-speaking and Spanish-speaking individuals, among other marginalized groups.
• California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative will design communication strategies that reaffirm their strategic focus on racial justice and equity, Black/Asian solidarity, labor and employment rights, and securing a just economic recovery for the immigrant workforce.
• Community Lawyers, Inc. (CLI) will increase temporary program staffing so that leadership can engage in tailored technical assistance around long-term strategic visioning, planning and fundraising.
• Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO) will strengthen leadership and infrastructure to attend to language justice needs and fight against the invisibility of indigenous people and the resulting language violence.
• Filipino Migrant Center will hire a bilingual Communications Coordinator and a bilingual Community Organizer to develop health education programs for low-income and working-class Filipino families in Los Angeles County.
• Korean American Coalition will fight against Asian hate, provide bilingual and culturally appropriate alternative dispute resolution, ongoing COVID-19 in-language outreach, leadership development for Korean American youth, and civic engagement campaigns.
• The Latino and Latina Roundtable will launch a pilot immigration program with temporary staff to coordinate immigration services and create programming and content to address the immediate needs of the immigrant community.
• Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (NHPI) Alliance will develop specific, operations-level programs, personnel, fund development, and volunteer management plans and support the Alliance in expanding their citizenship and immigration clinics.
• Refugee Children Center will support families unable to secure pro bono or low-cost representation in filing asylum applications or withholding removal and employment authorizations forms, thus increasing participants’ chances of securing legal representation.
• Saahas for Cause will improve, configure and train staff in data collection and management, as well as strengthen the capacity of the Board of Directors, especially around roles and responsibilities and data-driven decision-making.

The 10 grantees were honored by OIA and the LA County Board of Supervisors at a virtual recognition event on Friday. A recording of the event is available on DCBA’s YouTube page.

For more information about the initiative, visit cnmsocal.org/capacity-strengthening-grants-for-immigrant-focused-cbos/. For more resources and information provided by the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs, visit immigrants.lacounty.gov.

National Immigrants Day is a commemoration that began with an Act of Congress in 1987 to honor the contributions of immigrants both past and present. It is recognized on October 28, the day the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886.

New public-private regional program is first-in-nation to include a holistic approach to support immigrant households

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County (County) Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) announce the completion of an agreement to launch RepresentLA, a program to provide immigration legal representation and link immigrants in Los Angeles County and their families to critical support services. The agreement is between OIA serving as the County administrator and CHIRLA as the lead contractor.

RepresentLA is a public-private partnership funded by the County, the City of Los Angeles, the California Community Foundation, and the Weingart Foundation. These partners worked together for more than a year to develop the program’s framework, applying lessons learned from their major investments in the immigration sector and input from nearly 100 public and community stakeholders.

A recent report by the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy highlights the devastating consequences when children and adults in removal proceedings go unrepresented. As leaders from around the hemisphere meet in Los Angeles to discuss regional migration challenges at the Summit of the Americas, RepresentLA stands for the bold commitment local leaders have undertaken to expand access to counsel and eliminate other barriers to immigrant integration.

RepresentLA includes four pillars to provide services in the following areas: removal defense for persons in immigration detention, removal defense for non-detained immigrants, affirmative immigration relief representation, and community support for clients and families during their immigration process. The community support pillar aims to ensure that historically underserved immigrant communities receive access to legal representation and connect clients and their families to holistic support services such as healthcare, housing resources, and wage protections. Anticipated additional funding from the County’s Department of Health Services will provide immigrants who are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless with immigration legal representation, the first-of-its-kind effort in the nation.

To build and deliver these services, CHIRLA will partner with Immigrant Defenders Law Center for removal defense services, and the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) for affirmative immigration relief services. These two organizations will work with CHIRLA to subcontract several other non-profit legal and social service providers to implement the full program in the coming months.

CHIRLA will release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Removal Defense Direct Representation Services in the coming days. CHIRLA will subsequently release an RFP to onboard community support providers and legal service providers to represent vulnerable immigrant populations to apply for various forms of affirmative immigration relief, including: immigrants experiencing homelessness, asylum seekers, survivors of labor trafficking and other severe workplace exploitation, and minors eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Following these competitive application processes to onboard service providers, RepresentLA is expected to begin accepting clients in the summer of 2022.

More information regarding RepresentLA, including how to become a collaborating partner, will be available within a week at: representla.org or immigrants.lacounty.gov.

Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) hosted a community resource fair for Unaccompanied Minors and their sponsors when an unexpected sight may have been encountered. Artist Phung Huynh, has always had a passion for art and its ability to spark conversations about culture, customs, and representation, and continues to share her craft nationally and internationally. Huynh was selected as DCBA’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) Artist and Creative Strategist through an innovative program created by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture which uses art to explore creative solutions to complex challenges.

At a Welcome Fair at East Los Angeles College, Phung Huynh creates a welcoming environment that encourages expression through art and displays attendee artwork.

Huynh proudly recalls the moment a child visited a community fair booth three times because they wanted to express themselves through art. Reflecting on her selection for the post, she says: “I am honored and privileged at the chance to make an impact through art and working with the community. I help uplift the narratives of those we serve.”

“This is a perfect opportunity to connect art to OIA. My work contributes to immigrants feeling welcome and safe in a festive and fun environment,” she said. The latter an intentional recognition on her part that all residents deserve joy.

As a Southeast Asian refugee, Huynh found peace, solace, guidance and belonging through a neighbor’s connection to art and the Cambodian diaspora by way of Paris, France.

Those in Los Angeles have a limited opportunity to see Huynh’s work in her latest exhibit Donut (W)hole at Self Help Graphics and Art which opened on March 12, 2022 and runs through May 27, 2022. It explores the nexus between the Cambodian and Vietnamese refugee experience and donut shops through a unique medium – the synonymous pink boxes popularized by these shops.

Huynh shares that this exhibit is for everyone of all ages. Those that relate to the California experience and who visit donut shops regularly will reminisce. This exhibit is also for those that have sensed “a feeling of other” or “not able to find their name.” She says it honors the names and histories of refugees in pursuit of their own American dream.

Attendees are strongly encouraged to pre-register for this event at selfhelpgraphics.eventbrite.com as this exhibit has garnered extensive coverage on local television, digital, and food-based news outlets.

Donut (W)hole exhibition attendees create artwork that reflects their cultural identity.

Those who attend the exhibit might make comparisons to public works of art, and rightly so. Huynh’s distinct style and prominence has been rewarded with opportunities to share her work at Metro light rail stations, Los Angeles Zoo and other Los Angeles County facilities. Those works, as well as her future works and exhibits can be found at phunghuynh.com.

Whether through a traditional art exhibit or helping children find their artistic philosophy, Phung Huynh excitedly looks forward to the next opportunity that intertwines the power of expression, reflection, and hope.

Finding accurate and up-to-date information from trusted sources is a challenge for many Immigrants in Los Angeles County. Despite the devastating impact of the 2020 economic crisis on immigrant households, new research from the Urban Institute demonstrates that 1 out of 4 adults in low-income immigrant families avoided government benefit programs and other assistance because of immigration concerns. The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), part of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, is rising to the challenge to deliver critical information directly to LA County’s immigrants through a new, groundbreaking private-public initiative.

Through the Immigrant Essential Workers Public Charge Outreach and Education Program, the OIA will partner with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) to train and deploy a cohort of trusted, culturally and linguistically competent community navigators. These navigators will educate the community about accessing LA County services and how use of these vital resources relates to the federal government’s public charge rules.

The Community Navigators program is funded by a grant from Blue Shield of California Foundation, with critical support from Weingart Foundation and California Community Foundation.

“Throughout the pandemic, we have seen how important it is for residents, regardless of immigration status, to receive information in a culturally linguistic and competent manner through the Promotores program,” shared Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Hilda L. Solis. “I am confident the Community Navigators program can achieve that same level of success and create a positive impact by increasing access to essential County services in a culturally sensitive way.”

“All immigrants and their families deserve to be safe and comfortable when accessing the County resources they need,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “We’re proud to provide this program to help vulnerable communities during these challenging times.”

“Years of surviving and fighting immigrant-bashing, as well as multiple deportations, have fostered understandable fear among our immigrant neighbors, with the result that 1 in 4 are reluctant to apply for services to which they are entitled,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “Every immigrant in LA County has the right to receive resources, regardless of immigration status. That’s why this program is so important. It creates a safe space so that people who would greatly benefit from services can take advantage of them without fear.”

“The economic challenges of the past 18 months have affected people in all walks of life, including immigrants in Los Angeles County,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Available programs are there to provide help, but only if people feel safe and secure enough to access them. This initiative should help immigrants bridge that gap and get the boost they need.”

“By wisely leveraging public-private partnerships, I applaud County departments, agencies and partner organizations for stepping up to provide critical assistance to vulnerable communities while we collaboratively maintain fiscal responsibility for all of our residents,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

“Educating the community is a critical component of our department’s mission,” said Rafael Carbajal, Director, LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. “We are thrilled to bring together a partnership from public, private, and nonprofit sectors to provide the best, most reliable education to our County’s most vulnerable.”

“Fear runs deep in immigrant communities about using County support services,” said Rigo Reyes, Executive Director, LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs. “These trusted community-based navigators are essential to heal immigrants’ concerns and help them access the services they and their families need.”

“Too many California communities are facing the compounding impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and immigration policy changes,” said Carolyn Wang Kong, Chief Program Director at Blue Shield of California Foundation. “Wherever possible, we need to support trusted community messengers in bringing accurate, actionable information to communities who need it most, so that they can access the public benefits for which they are eligible and that can help ensure healthier futures.”

“We are so pleased to partner with the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs office in order to better assist immigrant families access the services and programs available to them. At a time when so many people feel forgotten and alone, our navigators will bring hope and guidance thanks to this well-thought and proactive initiative,” said Angelica Salas, CHIRLA Executive Director.

“It is crucial for us to protect our immigrant communities,” said Miguel A. Santana, President and CEO of the Weingart Foundation. “Many immigrants are frontline workers, healthcare professionals, and domestic and agriculture workers who have sustained our region throughout the pandemic. That’s why we’re proud to support LA County’s new Community Navigator program, which will help immigrant communities access vital safety net programs during this challenging time.”

About Blue Shield of California Foundation

Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the state’s largest and most trusted grantmaking organizations. Our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians, particularly the underserved, by making health care accessible, effective, and affordable, and by ending domestic violence. For more information, visit: www.blueshieldcafoundation.org.

If a loved one has died this year because of COVID-19—even if the deceased was undocumented—you might be eligible to receive financial help for their funeral expenses.

Los Angeles County residents can now apply through FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program. To be eligible for funeral assistance, LA County residents must meet all of these FEMA established conditions:

• The death must have occurred in the United States.
• The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified non-citizen who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.

LA County encourages eligible applicants to call FEMA’s Funeral Assistance Line at 844-684-6333 between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m, or visit FEMA.gov for additional information.