A significant number of immigrants throughout California have benefited from low- and no-cost immigration services provided by local Catholic Charities organizations (LCCOs). We offer a range of social and legal services. The critical supportive services include food assistance, case management and counseling, and other human services on-site to comprehensively address clients’ needs. For example, educational materials alongside food donations, and gift exchanges for immigrant youth during the holidays.
Our legal services including naturalization applications, DACA renewals, removal defense representation, and legal assistance for unaccompanied undocumented minors. Most of our immigration legal services programs are funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). All Catholic Charities legal service providers are recognized by the federal Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP) and most employ Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Accredited Representatives, which facilitate legal representation before Immigration Courts, the BIA, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In 2023, these programs served over 15,900 individuals in 54 of the 58 counties across the state. Clients come from over 130 countries across the world to join family members in California, to flee unrest in their home countries, and to make a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
