Represent LA - Office of Immigrant Affairs

About RepresentLA

RepresentLA is a collaborative program that expands access to immigration legal representation for low-income Los Angeles County residents facing deportation, as well as other vulnerable community members seeking immigration relief. The program is managed by the County’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and is designed to protect due process, keep families strong, and make sure that vulnerable residents don’t have to navigate the immigration system on their own. Services are provided through a coordinated network of nonprofit partners that support eligible residents across every region of Los Angeles County.

The program builds on the success of the Los Angeles Justice Fund, a public-private partnership created in 2017 that highlighted the need for expanded access to immigration legal services. After extensive community engagement and recommendations from nearly 100 stakeholders, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established RepresentLA in 2021, and the program began serving clients in 2022.

RepresentLA was originally launched as a public-private partnership with generous support from the California Community Foundation and the Weingart Foundation. Today, it is funded through investments by the County of Los Angeles and the City of Los Angeles.

Working through two lead nonprofit organizations and a wider network of legal service providers, RepresentLA delivers legal representation, legal orientation, community education, and referrals to supportive services throughout Los Angeles County.

How RepresentLA Works

RepresentLA offers four key areas of support that assist immigrants at different stages of their immigration journey. Together, they strengthen access to justice, expand legal representation, and connect individuals and families with trusted community resources:

Legal representation for immigrants currently in immigration detention.

Legal representation for individuals in immigration court proceedings who are living in the community.

Legal services for vulnerable populations seeking immigration protections and other forms of relief.

Legal orientation, Know Your Rights education, referrals, and connections to supportive services.

Who RepresentLA Serves

RepresentLA serves low-income Los Angeles County residents with household incomes below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. Services are available through two primary service pathways, depending on an individual’s immigration legal needs.

RepresentLA provides merit-blind legal representation to eligible County residents who are in active immigration removal proceedings. Services are available for individuals who are:

Detained in immigration custody
Non-detained and appearing before the immigration court while living in the community

RepresentLA also provides affirmative immigration legal representation to eligible Los Angeles County residents from vulnerable populations that have historically faced barriers to accessing legal services including:

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families
Survivors of labor trafficking and workplace exploitation
Children and youth who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment (including those seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status)
Asylum seekers
Individuals and families affected by Temporary Protected Status (TPS) changes or immigration enforcement actions

Why Representation Matters

Every year, thousands of Los Angeles County residents face immigration proceedings on their own. Immigration law is one of the most complex areas of the legal system, and people in these proceedings generally do not have the right a government-appointed attorney. When someone faces deportation without legal support, the impact can affect not only the individual, but also their family, workplace, and community.

RepresentLA expands access to trusted legal services through a countywide network of nonprofit providers, helping to protect due process, prevent fraud and scams, promote family stability, and ensure that eligible Los Angeles County residents do not have to navigate the immigration system alone.

Get Legal Help

RepresentLA accepts referrals from County and City departments, community organizations, and other trusted partners. To request legal assistance or schedule a Know Your Rights presentation, contact the Office of Immigrant Affairs: 1-800-593-8222

Capacity for attorney representation in removal proceedings is limited and services are subject to provider availability.

Legal Service Providers:

Program Leadership

CHIRLA – The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
- Lead contractor for removal defense
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
- Lead contractor for vulnerable populations representation

Removal Defense Providers:

Vulnerable Population Providers

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California: labor trafficking & workplace exploitation
Bet Tzedek Legal Services: abused, neglected, abandoned youth
CARECEN: Temporary Protected Status
Children’s Law Center: abused, neglected, abandoned youth
Esperanza Immigrant Right’s Project: abused, neglected, abandoned youth
Immigrant Defenders Law Center: Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families
Immigration Resource Center of San Gabriel Valley: enforcement-impacted residents of El Monte/San Gabriel Valley
PARS Equality Center: asylum seekers
Thai Community Development Center: labor trafficking & workplace exploitation

Limited-Scope Legal Assistance and Legal Orientation

CAMUR – Centro de Asistencia al Migrante Urban y Rural: enforcement-impacted individuals and families
CARECEN
CHIRLA
Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project
Immigrant Defenders Law Center