Know Your Rights
The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs Know Your Rights Resource Hub is an access center for immigrant communities and providers to understand their rights and find local resources.
The Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) encourages immigrant communities to access the following resources to understand their rights and find local resources. These resources are designed to help individuals better understand their legal rights while providing access to important local services and support
Know Your Rights
- Expansion of Expedited removal – Know Your Rights document for the community on expansion of expedited removal – English | Spanish
- ILRC Know Your Rights Red Cards (39 languages): Printable cards with constitutional rights information in multiple languages to help people assert their rights and defend themselves during immigration enforcement situations.
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – Know Your Rights – Immigrants’ Rights Information and Resources.
- Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo (CIELO) – You can find KYR videos in indigenous languages.
- The National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) – A KYR mobile app with audio and text resources in 19+ languages. Includes an emergency feature to announce your rights in English and text your contacts. Available for Android and Apple .
- National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) – Accessible, easy to download Know Your Rights resources with detailed, Spanish-language guidance when encountering immigration authorities in the street, at home, or at work.
Events and Workshops
In partnership with RepresentLA, and local legal service provider organizations, The Office of Immigrant Affairs events calendar features free virtual, in-person, and hybrid Know Your Rights Workshops for immigrant communities and organizations serving them.
Visit the OIA calendar for free virtual, in-person, and hybrid Know Your Rights workshops, resource fairs, and community events for immigrant communities and the organizations near you. To schedule or request more information for your community contact OIA at: Immigrants@dcba.lacounty.gov and include in the subject line “Workshops and Events”.
ILRC Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas
ILRC Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.
Register for the next workshop near you:
Available workshop topics include:
- Know Your Rights
- Legal clinics
- Public charge and Access to Services
- STOP Notario Fraud
Prerecorded Know your Rights & Public Benefits Webinars
Passcode: 5e#puQq1
- [English]: Know Your Rights
- [Spanish]: Conozca sus derechos
Disclaimer notice: The content in these recordings and slide decks were accurate as of the date of the presentation.
Detention Support
Know Your Rights: What to do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration
- ICE Online Detainee Locator System, Locate a loved one that has been detained for more than 48 hours. *Online Detainee Locator System cannot search for records of persons under the age of 18. The locator is not being updated frequently, check daily or twice a day if needed.
- Search by A-Number and Country of birth or
- Search by Biographical Information (first and last name, country of birth, and date of birth
- How to Find Detained Family Member
- Como Puedes Encontrar Alguien Detenido:
- Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration, National Immigration Law Center
Rapid Response Networks
- Los Angeles Rapid Response Network (888) 624-4752
- Boyle Heights/ East Los Angeles Rapid Response Network: (323) 805-1049
- Long Beach ÓRALE: (562) 245-9575
- Orange County Rapid Response Network (714) 881-1558
- Riverside and San Bernardino Hotline (909) 361-4588
- For a list of Rapid Response hotlines in California, visit www.ccijustice.org/carrn
Family Preparedness Planning
A preparedness plan is an emergency plan in preparation for a worst- case scenario. Hopefully, you will not have to make use of this plan but it’s important to plan ahead to help keep your family safe and ready for emergencies.
- California Caregiver’s Affidavit
- Bet Tzedek family preparedness resources to support families for emergencies including identifying important documents and formal and informal caregivers for children.
- Public Counsel immigrant resource hub for families, small businesses, and workers.
In the Workplace
Immigrants have protections in the workplace. In the workplace, you have the right to fair treatment, a safe environment, and protection against discrimination and unfair practices.
National Day Labor Organizing Network
Information for immigrant workers:
State of California Department of Industrial Relations
Provides services to all workers in multiple languages and the team does not ask about or track immigration status:
- Workplace Safety & Health
- Know your labor rights
- Worker protections: Wildfire smoke, cleanup and rebuilding
- What can a worker do if they were injured pr become ill at work
Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs, Office of Labor Equity
- LA County Minimum wage ordinance: For Workers | For Employers
- Worker Protection Laws
- Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
- Health and Safety Retaliation
- Prevention of Human Trafficking
*workers affected by natural disasters can seek emergency or disaster assistance regardless of citizenship status, more information below.*
At Schools and Universities
Students across Los Angeles County have access to resources through their public education institutions.
K-12: Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) offers resources and guidance for schools, students, and families.
- IMMIGRANT RELATIONS & SERVICES
- SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TOOLKIT
- LAUSD: Informational Resource Guide for Immigrant Students and Families
Higher Education
On Campus Legal Services
- California Community College Campus Legal Services *
- UCLA Legal Services *
- CSU The California State University: Cal State Link*
*Services may be limited to students and employees. Consult with each provider for eligibility.
Immigration Legal Services
Immigration is complicated, only licensed attorneys and federally accredited representatives are authorized to provide you legal advice and represent you in immigration matters.
RepresentLA removal defense service providers represent immigrants in immigration court removal proceedings.
Please note that capacity is limited and varies by organization.
Avoid Immigration Services Fraud
Visit the “Getting the Right Help” section on our Immigration Fraud page for detailed information on finding authorized immigration legal service providers.
Find a Los Angeles Lawyer Service – State Bar of California
A private attorney referral service to help connect you to licensed attorneys in immigration and other areas
Smart Law Referral Service – LA County Bar Association
A private attorney referral service to help connect you to licensed attorneys in immigration and other areas
Immigration Unit – Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office
Can assist legal service providers and Los Angeles County residents in assessing the immigration consequences of criminal convictions and evaluate whether post-conviction relief may help individuals to qualify for immigration benefits/relief.
Verify if an attorney is licensed in California by checking the State Bar
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
The federal agency that that oversees immigration benefits in the United States such as family petitions and naturalization
Processing Times – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
USCIS tool to check case processing times
Case Status Online – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
USCIS tool to track the status of an immigration application, petition or request
Tenants
In L.A. County, residents cannot be evicted due to immigration status and you are protected from unlawful threats.
Housing Rights Center (HRC)
Offers free housing counseling, discrimination investigation and outreach and education.
- For rental assistance, shelter and housing, call 211.
- Fair housing is your right: Call the Housing Rights Hotline to speak a housing counselor at the Housing Rights Center at 1-800-477-5977
- TTY: 1-213-201-0867
Stay Housed LA (SHLA)
Helps all tenants in Los Angeles County understand and protect their rights, including immigrant tenants.
- Learn About Your Rights: Use SHLA’s online resources to learn about your rights as a tenant.
- Join a Workshop: Sign up for a tenant education workshop or legal clinic
- Get Legal Help: SHLA provides free legal services to eligible tenants facing eviction.