ABOUT US

Immigrants Are LA (IRLA) is a coalition of grassroots immigrant organizations that launched a campaign in 2021 to ensure immigrants got their fair share of Los Angeles County’s portion of federal COVID relief and, eventually, could become fully integrated into Los Angeles County’s budget process.
As the historic American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) took shape in Congress, more than 100 forward-thinking, diverse organizations, guided by the California Community Foundation’s Immigrant Integration Task Force, banded together as IRLA to present an agenda of immigrant-centered budget priorities to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who would decide how to spend $1.9 billion, a record for the county, in ARP funds.
Over 18 months, IRLA’s advocacy and organizing resulted in the county dedicating more than $163 million to programs that include or focus on immigrants. Later, as that process wound down, IRLA assumed its long-term mission of integrating immigrants into the life of the county by making them fully visible in its budget.

Our Fiscal Year 2026-27 BUDGET & POLICY DEMANDS

Group of people holding signs that read "Immigrants are Los Angeles" during a protest in front of a government building.

Immigrants are vital to Los Angeles County’s cultural richness, economic growth, and resilience. Yet many face housing instability and exclusion from basic safety-net programs, while language and digital barriers limit access to County services.

Equitable resource allocation is not only fair. It strengthens the County as a whole. Each year, Immigrants Are LA (IRLA) develops immigrant-centered budget and policy requests for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors based on the lived experiences of immigrant communities across the County.

These priorities are informed by IRLA’s annual survey and listening sessions with member organizations and community members, as well as ongoing engagement with County departments and Supervisorial offices. They are formalized through a budget and policy request letter submitted as part of the County’s annual budget process.

Keep Immigrant Families Housed

Immigrant families are being pushed toward eviction as rising rents collide with income disruptions caused by immigration enforcement. Many are excluded from traditional rental assistance and face heightened risk of displacement.

IRLA is calling on the County to:

  • Freeze rent increases during the State of Emergency

  • Convert rent debt to consumer debt to prevent eviction during crisis

  • Establish a permanent Emergency Rent Relief Program

  • Raise the evictable rent-debt threshold to $25,000 during the emergency

Support Immigrant Seniors With Guaranteed Basic Income

Many immigrant seniors have worked their entire lives and contributed to Social Security and other safety-net programs, but are excluded from them. As they age, many face housing and financial instability, especially when impacted by illness or enforcement.

IRLA is calling for a two-year, $8.3M Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program to support aging immigrant seniors. This pilot would:

  • Provide $1,200 per month for 24 months

  • Serve adults 65 and older ineligible for federal or state cash assistance

  • Prioritize seniors impacted by or at risk of immigration enforcement

Ensure Equitable Implementation Of Immigrant Programs

Recent County investments in language access and digital equity must be fully implemented and sustained to reach immigrant communities as intended.

IRLA is calling on the County to:

  • Continue monitoring the swift implementation of the Countywide Language Access Policy and Plan

  • Build capacity for and deepen investments in CBO-led translation and interpretation services

  • Sustain and expand digital equity programs for immigrant communities

GET INVOLVED

Join IRLA’s campaign to ensure that immigrants are included in Los Angeles County’s regular budget!

Here’s how to get involved.

A woman standing and smiling while holding a sign that reads 'ACTION ACCIÓN' in English and Spanish, with additional text in Chinese and Thai, against a plain background.

CLICK TO EMAIL

Here’s what you need to
contact your supervisor to demand the county #FUNDIMMIGRANTS!

Send an email
Mande un correo

TAKE ACTION

Join our advocacy! Check out the tool kit below!

TOOLKIT

IRLA Steering Committee

  • https://www.chirla.org/

    Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)

  • https://www.cofem.org/

    Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM)

  • https://www.pwcsc.org/

    Pilipino Workers Center (PWC)

  • https://www.translatinacoalition.org/

    The TransLatin@ Coalition

  • https://ca.cair.com/losangeles/

    Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA)

  • https://www.inclusiveaction.org/

    Inclusive Action for the City

IRLA Power Building Grantees (PBGs) 2025-2026

  • African Communities Public Health Coalition (African Coalition)

  • Alliance for a Better Community (ABC)

  • Black Alliance for Just Immigrations (BAJI)

  • Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)

  • CLEAN CarWash Worker Center

  • Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero

  • Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO)

  • Echo Park Immigration Center (EPIC)

  • Filipino Migrant Center

  • Homies Unidos

  • Korean Resource Center

  • LA Voice

  • Mirror Memoirs

  • ORALE

  • Parent Engagement Academy (PEA)

  • People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER)

  • Pomona Economic Opportunity Center (PEOC)

  • Proyecto Pastoral

  • SALVA

  • Somos Familia Valle

  • South Asian Network (SAN)

  • Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC)

  • Tiyya Foundation

Join OUR COALITION

We are community-based organizations, immigrants’ rights groups, faith-based groups, and direct service providers advocating for a just recovery for all Angelenos.

  • ACLU Foundation of Southern California

  • African Communities Public Health Coalition

  • Altamed

  • American Indian Movement So Cal

  • Antelope Valley League of United Latin Americans

  • APAIT - A Division of Special Service for Groups

  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles

  • Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council

  • Asian Prisoner Support Committee

  • ASILO

  • Bet Tzedek Legal Services

  • Building Skills Partnership

  • C. S. H.

  • California Community Foundation

  • California Immigrant Policy Center

  • Carlos Bulosan Book Club

  • Central American Resource Center (Carecen Los Angeles)

  • Centro Cha Inc. Long Beach Community Hispanic Association

  • Children’s Institute

  • Clean Carwash Campaign

  • Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)

  • Cofem Council of Mexican Federations

  • Communities United For Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)

  • Community Coalition

  • Council On American-islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles (CAIR-LA)

  • CURB

  • Equality California

  • Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project

  • Faith And Community Empowerment (Formerly Kccd)

  • Families In Schools

  • Fathers & Families Of San Joaquin

  • Filam Arts

  • Filipino American Service Group, Inc

  • Filipino Human Rights Alliance (FAHRA) - Los Angeles

  • FWC

  • Golden State Opportunity

  • Ground Game LA

  • Immigrant Defenders Law Center

  • Immigration Resource Center Of San Gabriel Valley

  • Inclusive Action For The City

  • Inland Coalition For Immigrant Justice

  • Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Service (IRIS)

  • International Rescue Committee-Los Angeles

  • Juarez Consulting Inc

  • Justice for Filipino American
    Veterans (JFAV)-USA

  • Kheir Clinic

  • Khmer Girls in Action

  • KIWA

  • LA Voice

  • LCLAA LA Chapter

  • Long Beach Forward

  • Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition

  • Los Angeles Black Worker Center

  • Me Too Survivors March
    International

  • Mental Health America of Los Angeles

  • Mexican American Opportunity
    Foundation (MAOF)

  • MILPA

  • Mirror Memoirs

  • MOTHER MOVEMENT

  • National Day Laborer Organizing
    Network

  • National Immigration Law Center

  • Occupy ICE L.A

  • Para Los Niños

  • Parent Engagement Academy

  • Pars Equality Center, Los Angeles

  • Philippine Women's Center

  • Pilipino Workers Center

  • Pillars of the Community

  • Pomona Economic Opportunity Center

  • Proyecto Pastoral

  • Restaurant Opportunities Center
    of Los Angeles

  • Revolve Impact

  • SAHARA

  • SALVA

  • Search to Involve Pilipino
    Americans (SIPA)

  • SEIU United Service Workers West

  • Somos Familia Valle

  • South Asian Helpline and
    Referral Agency

  • South Asian Network

  • Southwestern Law School -
    Community Lawyering Clinic

  • St. John's Well Child & Family Center

  • Tender Loving Care Family
    Caregiver Support Group

  • Thai CDC

  • The Black Alliance for
    Just Immigration (BAJI)

  • The TransLatin@ Coalition

  • UCLA Immigrant Family Legal Clinic

  • UCLA Labor Center

  • UFCW Local 770

  • USC Equity Research Institute

  • Venice Family Clinic

  • YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles

  • Young Center for Immigrant
    Children's Rights

A group of diverse people participating in a rally or protest march outside a government building. Several individuals hold signs advocating for immigrants and calling for action. A woman at a podium reads from a paper, and some participants wave transgender pride flags.

IN THE NEWS

2025

2024

PRESS STATEMENTS/RELEASES

2024

2023

2022

NEWSLETTERS

Sep 2025

Jun 2025

Apr 2025

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May 2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

2025

Woman standing next to a sign with greetings in multiple languages, wearing a black shirt with a TransLatin@ Coalition logo, smiling.

CONTACT US AT

contact@immigrantsarela.com

Media Request/Press Contact

vorozco@tzunu.com - Veronica Orozco