Editor’s note: This article was updated on June 26, 2025 to add additional resources.
Los Angeles, home to a vibrant immigrant population, has long been seen as a sanctuary city. As immigration raids intensify, we’ve compiled a list of resources in Boyle Heights and the greater L.A. area to help keep you informed.
From legal aid to support for K-12 and college students, scroll down to learn more about organizations offering services for L.A.’s immigrant communities.
Legal Aid
CARECEN
Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), founded in 1983, helps support Central Americans and all immigrants by defending human and civil rights, working for social and economic justice and promoting cultural diversity.
- Location: 2845 W. 7th Street
- Contact: (213) 358-7800
- Website: https://www.carecen-la.org/
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) provides legal assistance for low-income immigrants across the county. Services are available in over eight languages, including English and Spanish. LAFLA can provide support regarding removal proceedings, asylum and refugee status, family reunification, DACA, naturalization, visas and other immigration-related matters.
- Closest location: 5301 Whittier Blvd., 4th Floor
- Contact: (800) 399-4529
- Website: https://lafla.org/
Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic
The Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC) is a community-based collaboration of Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University, Homeboy Industries and Dolores Mission Church. The organization’s mission is to advance the rights of the Eastside immigrant population through direct legal services, education and community empowerment while teaching law students in immigrant rights.
- Location: 919 Albany St.
- Contact: (213) 252-7409
- Website: https://www.lls.edu/academics/experientiallearning/clinics/loyolaimmigrantjusticeclinic/
Immigrant Defenders Law Center
The Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) is one of the largest immigration legal service providers in California, serving clients in more than 10 counties including Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and San Bernardino. The ImmDeff team provides full-scale deportation defense, legal representation, legal education and social services to approximately 30,000 detained and non-detained children and adults annually.
- Location: 634 S. Spring St. 10th Floor
- Contact: (213) 634-0999
Website: https://www.immdef.org/
Immigration Center for Women and Children
The Immigration Center for Women and Children is a nonprofit legal organization that provides free and affordable services to underrepresented immigrants in California and Nevada, striving to provide security and stability for those in need.
- Location: 634 S. Spring St. #702
- Contact: (213) 614-1165
- Website: https://www.icwclaw.org/
Esperanza Immigration Rights Project
Esperanza Immigration Rights Project, located at Catholic Charities of L.A., provides community education, access to direct representation in court and pro bono legal services for immigrants in the city, including those facing the threat of possible deportation.
- Location: 1530 James M. Wood Blvd.
- Contact: (213) 251-3505
- Website: https://www.esperanza-la.org/
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (AAAJ-LA) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The organization offers free legal help, engages in impact litigation and policy advocacy.
Clients can call their helplines to get questions answered about everything from citizenship and DACA renewals to family laws, health insurance access and workers rights issues. Its support lines are available in a variety of languages.
- Location: 1145 Wilshire Blvd.
- Contact: (213) 977-7500
- Website: https://ajsocal.org/
Community support
El Centro de Ayuda
El Centro de Ayuda, a nonprofit organization promoting social, emotional, academic and economic self-sufficiency, offers a variety of different services, coaching and assistance for the Boyle Heights community. It operates out of Boyle Heights City Hall.
- Location: 2130 E. 1st Street Suite 110
- Contract: (323) 526-9301
- Website: https://www.elcentrodeayuda.org/
Proyecto Pastoral
Proyecto Pastoral is a community-building nonprofit in Boyle Heights empowering the neighborhood and its residents through education, leadership and service grassroots projects. One aspect of the organization is its Guadalupe Homeless Project (GHP), founded in 1988 to provide housing for those in need, including unhoused refugees and immigrants in need.
- Location: 135 N. Mission Rd.
- Contact: (323) 881-0018
- Website: https://www.proyectopastoral.org/
L.A. LGBT Center – Mi Centro
The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Immigration Law Project provides legal consultations, court representation and holistic support to protect members of the LGBT community. The center can assist those looking to apply for permanent residency, naturalization, family and marriage petitions and other administrative relief.
- Closest location: 553 S. Clarence St.
- Contact: (323) 993-7670
- Website: https://lalgbtcenter.org/services/legal-services/immigrant-legal-services/
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
LAPL’s New Americans Initiative offers free immigration services including assistance with N-400s, green card renewals, fee waiver completions, DACA renewals and other immigration-related questions. LAPL also offers citizenship classes for those who qualify.
- Locations: There’s locations in downtown L.A. and Echo Park plus more here
- Contact: (213) 228-7390
- Website: https://www.lapl.org/newamericans
Rapid Response Teams
Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network
The Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network is a coalition of school leaders, lawyers, faith groups and community organizations dedicated to educating, mobilizing and protecting immigrants. On top of keeping residents informed and providing resources for the community, the network is working with the L.A. Rapid Response Network to report and verify ICE activity.
Website: https://www.promesaboyleheights.org/promesa-immigrant-rights-network
Resources: https://www.instagram.com/boyleheightsirn/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D
Rapid Response Line: (323) 805-1049
CHIRLA
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, better known as CHIRLA, is an advocacy organization founded in the 1980s that has pushed for immigrant rights, organizing, educating and defending immigrants and refugees in all walks of life. To request a phone appointment for legal immigration services, you can call (213) 201-3797 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. A hotline is also available at (888) 624-4752.
- Location: 2533 W. 3rd St., #101
- Contact: (213) 358-1333
- Website: https://www.chirla.org/
Unión del Barrio
Unión del Barrio, a pro-immigrant political organization, began its community patrols program in San Diego in 1992. Volunteers are trained to identify ICE vehicles and alert residents online and in person. Alleged sights of immigration enforcement agents, support and more information is available on the group’s Instagram page, as well as its website.
To report suspected activity to Unión Del Barrio, you can contact community patrols at:
- Los Angeles Line: (213) 444-6562
- North County San Diego / Escondido Line: (760) 913-0306
- Oxnard/Ventura Line: (805) 296-1119
- San Diego Line: (619) 916-7215
Southern California Rapid Response Network
While the Boyle Heights Immigrant Rights Network, Unión del Barrio and CHIRLA are the go-to for local sightings, the Southern California Rapid Response Network also serves communities throughout the SoCal region. Here’s a full list of local response network hotlines:
- Central Valley: (559) 206-0151
- Kern County: (661) 432-2230
- Los Angeles: (888) 624-4752
- Orange County: (714) 881-1558
- San Bernardino/Riverside: (909) 361-4588
- CHIRLA: (213) 353-1333
- ORALE – Long Beach: (562) 276-0267
- Immigrant Defenders: (213) 833-8283
- Immigrant Rapid Response – Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo: 805-870-8855
Student resources
Los Angeles Unified School District
As immigration enforcement across the city intensifies, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has launched a “We Are One” campaign to reaffirm its sanctuary status, equipping schools with training, resources and “Know Your Rights” tools to safeguard LAUSD students and their families.
Website: https://www.lausd.org/Page/13198
Family Hotline: (213) 443-1300
California Community Colleges (CCC)
The CCC system also offers resources and services to immigrant and undocumented students on campus. Some locations have dedicated Dream Resource Centers and host “know your rights” clinics. According to its website, schools under its system “will not release personally identifiable student information related to immigration status unless required by judicial order.”
Dream Resource Center at East L.A. Community College
The Dream Resource Center offers free immigration legal services for ELAC students and employees. Virtual and in-person appointments are available.
To schedule your appointment, click here.
- Location: E1-142 on the East L.A. College campus
- Contact: (323) 415-5483
- Website: https://www.elac.edu/student-services/spr/one-zone/drc
The California State University system has a resource page for undocumented students that includes information on DACA, legal and campus support services. You can read more about available offerings using this FAQ sheet.
University of Southern California Immigration Clinic
The University of Southern California (USC) Immigration Clinic, offered through the Gould School of Law, offers free legal services, resources and information to current students, staff, faculty, contract employees, and their family members.
- Location: 699 Exposition Blvd.
- Contact: (213) 821-9627
- Website: https://uscimmigrationclinic.org/
Dreamer Resource Center at Cal State L.A.
The Glazer Family Dreamers Resource Center offers free legal assistance with DACA and other immigration-related needs to Cal State L.A. students, faculty and staff.
- Location: 4th floor of the Student Services building at Cal State L.A.
- Contact: (323) 415-5483
- Website: https://www.calstatela.edu/gfdrc
If you know of other organizations that offer immigration services in Los Angeles, send us an email at editor@boyleheightsbeat.org.
