Occidental College is committed to the safety and well-being of every member of the Oxy community.
As an expression of that commitment, we have compiled a directory of resources for students and other community members who need access to support or resources relating to legal issues, gender, civil liberties, immigration status or other important issues.
Legal & Support Resources
Immigration
Occidental College Protocols Regarding Potential Immigration Enforcement on Campus
ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project
Easy-to-use guides on what to do if you’re stopped by the police or immigration agents; the legal rights of protesters; and what to do if you’re questioned about your immigration status.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-LA
Since 1991, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) has fought to create a seat at the table for Asian Americans in the national conversations that determine the policies that shape their lives.
Asociacion de Salvdoreños de Los Angeles (ASOSAL)
ASOSAL was created in April 1991 as a nonprofit organization by a group of 14 Salvadorans to defend the rights of immigrants. ASOSAL seeks to improve the quality of life of Salvadorans, Central Americans and Latino communities in Los Angeles by assisting immigrants to obtain permanent resident status.
Legal Department: asosal.org/Legal.php
Catholic Legal Immigration Network
Established in 1988 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, CLINIC promotes the dignity and protects the rights of immigrants in partnership with a dedicated network of Catholic and community legal immigration programs.
Central American Resource Center: CARECEN
A nonprofit organization that offers low-cost immigration legal services, community education programs, and advocacy and organizing to achieve fair and more inclusive immigration, education, and labor laws and policies.
Legal services: carecen-la.org/legal_services
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of LA: CHIRLA
Headed by Executive Director Angelica Salas ’93, CHIRLA is recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) to provide immigration legal services at low-cost to its members. The Legal Services Department has helped thousands of individuals to become citizens, reunite with their families and apply to become a DACA beneficiary. For legal immigration services consultation, visit CHIRLA Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday at 9 a.m. The consultation is $40 per person needing services.
Educators for Fair Consideration
Headed by Katharine Gin, who serves on University of California President Janet Napolitano's Advisory Group on Undocumented Students, San Francisco-based Educators for Fair Consideration seeks to empower undocumented young people by providing financial support, information and resources, among other initiatives.
Have a question about your immigration status? Visit E4FC’s DREAMer Intake Service to get a free, individual summary of your potential immigration remedies or contact E4FC's Legal Services at legalservices@e4fc.org.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Founded in 1979, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit resource center that provides immigration legal training, technical assistance, educational materials, and engages in advocacy and immigrant civic engagement to advance immigrant rights. (The ILRC does not provide direct legal services or individual legal consultations.)
Download the Post-Election Talking Points PDF
KIWA: Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance
KIWA organizes low-wage immigrant workers, tenants, and their families to promote workplace justice, housing rights, immigrants’ rights, democratic and sustainable community development, civic participation, gender justice, and cultural resistance.
Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund: MALDEF
Headquartered in Los Angeles, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community," MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.
My Undocumented Life|
A blog launched in 2011 by Harvard doctoral student Carolina Valdivia to provide up-to-date information and resources to undocumented immigrants, including scholarship opportunities, strategies for navigating the educational system, how to apply for DACA/Advanced Parole, news on DAPA, and more.
Unidos US
Formerly National Council of La Raza (NCLR) (La Raza). A private nonprofit organization founded in 1968 and based in Washington, D.C., NCLR is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the country. You can find information here on DACA and DAPA, how to avoid being ripped off by unscrupulous notarios, and how to apply for U.S. citizenship.
National Immigration Law Center
Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of low-income immigrants.
United We Dream
United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, with a network of over 100,000 immigrant youth and allies and 55 affiliate organizations in 26 states. UWD organizes and advocates for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status.
University of California Undocumented Student Legal Services Center
While the Center serves UC students only, this interview with Executive Director Maria Blanco offers a useful overview of the current state of the law and resources available to students generally.
Immigration Attorneys
Immigration Advocates’ National Immigration Legal Services Directory
The directory allows you to search for immigration legal services providers by state, county, or detention facility. Only nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services are included.
American Immigration Lawyers Association Lawyer Search
AILA is the only legal association in the United States for immigration attorneys. More than 14,000 immigration lawyers are members of AILA.
Women
The California Women’s Law Center
The California Women’s Law Center breaks down barriers and advances the potential of women and girls through transformative litigation, policy advocacy and education.
LGBTQIA+
Los Angeles LGBT Center
The Los Angeles LGBT Center provides services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and advocacy that span four broad categories: health, social services and housing, culture and education, and leadership and advocacy. Legal services include consultation and referral, hate crime assistance, intimate partner/domestic violence, asylum assistance, transgender services, and legal assistance.
The Wall Las Memorias A community health and wellness organization dedicated to serving Latino, LGBTQ and other under-served populations through advocacy, education and building the next generation of leadership.
Black Lesbians United Organization centering community building, philanthropy and representation of Black Lesbians in Los Angeles County.
Reach LA LGBTQIA+ organization in Los Angeles with the mission to, engage, empower, and celebrate LGBTQIA+ people of color and their communities.
Los Angeles Resources
City of Los Angeles Office of Race and Equity - Within the Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department (LA Civil Rights) to advance race and equity in the City of Los Angeles through policy and programs.
ACLU Requesting Legal Assistance - Southern California
Sistah Friends - Addressing unmet mental health needs among Black women as a whole who struggle with issues like anti-Blackness, systemic racism, gender oppression, social injustices, economic inequity, emotional and psychological trauma, and health disparities. SISTAHFRIENDS was formed to meet the behavioral health needs inclusive of all Black women regardless of sexual orientation.
Living Advantage, Inc Organization to utilize innovative technology, social networking and media to reduce unemployment, homelessness and incarceration for at-risk youth targeting foster youth.
Open Arms Food Pantry Resource Center Assisting Southern California residents who are challenged with Unemployment, Impoverished, Aged 50+, Homelessness, Veterans challenged with PTSD, those who are Disabled & Transitional Age Youth (T.A.Y) with food equity, housing supportive services and infant care support
Islamophobia
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Established in 1994 to challenge stereotypes of Islam and Muslims, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR quickly established its reputation as the "go-to" organization when bias is directed against Muslim individuals or institutions.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council
Since its inception in 1988, MPAC has worked diligently to foster a vibrant Muslim American identity and to represent the interests of Muslim Americans to decision makers in government agencies, media outlets, interfaith circles and Hollywood studios.
Jewish Voice for Peace
Strives to be visible, take strong action against Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism and to stand together with Muslim communities and all those targeted.
Antisemitism
An organization aimed to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.
Project Shema A training and support organization focused on addressing contemporary antisemitism with an emphasis on how anti-Jewish ideas and implicit biases can be carried alongside conversations about Israel and Palestine.
Brandeis Center “The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law is an independent, unaffiliated, nonprofit corporation established to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all. LDB engages in research, and legal advocacy to combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and university campuses, in the workplace, and elsewhere.”
General Civil Liberties
American Civil Liberties Union
ACLU Southern California Chapter
Civil Disobedience
National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles
Using law for the people, uniting lawyers, law students, legal workers, and jailhouse lawyers to function as an effective force in the service of the people by valuing human rights and the rights of ecosystems over property interests
Tips on Protesting Safely
Occupy Peace - Arrested at a Protest: How to Plan for It
Know Your Rights: What To Do If Your Rights Are Violated At A Demonstration Or Protest