Needs
We utilize a three-part strategy to ensure immigrant community safety in these challenging times:
1. Community Advocacy: culturally-responsive community outreach and education
2. Legal Advocacy: direct immigration legal services and impact litigation
3. Policy and Legislative Advocacy: policy advocacy to protect existing rights and to develop new protections in light of quickly shifting federal actions.
IMMIGRATION PROJECT
CRLAF's Citizenship and Immigrant Services Project provides informational services, high quality legal assistance, advocacy support, and community capacity building to provide our immigrant community members the opportunity to be a part of the decision-making process that affects their families and community. Our outreach team covers large geographic regions in northern California and the Central Valley. We provide outreach and Know Your Rights information to community members and the organizations serving them. Our clients include adults, children, and unaccompanied minors.
LITIGATION PROJECT
CRLAF’s Labor and Civil Rights Litigation Project provides outreach and legal representation to undocumented families, farmworkers, and other low-wage immigrant workers, who are not eligible for federally-funded legal services or whose interests are best represented in a class action. Attorneys offer in-person and virtual training and presentations on workers’ rights, as well as referrals to direct service organizations able to assist with safety-net support programs, other legal assistance, and immigration applications. Our experienced litigators are able to elevate cases that arise from the direct legal services provided by our immigration lawyers and advocates in immigration proceedings to federal district court when our clients’ civil rights are violated.
LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY ADVOCACY PROJECT
CRLAF’s Legislative and Policy Advocacy Project advocates maintain a strong presence in State and federal legislative advocacy to educate regional, state, and national stakeholders and officials about how proposed and realized policy changes affect low-wage rural workers, migrants, and immigrants in the areas of health, housing, and labor and employment.
In the areas of Labor and Employment, CRLAF interfaces with coalitions, statewide task forces, and other groups through advocacy to create stronger workplace safety protections and ensure such laws are properly regulated and enforced. The Project also reviews and analyzes guest worker (H2A visa workers) job orders to ensure accountability to California and federal law.
In the area of Rural Housing, CRLAF pursues policies in the state legislature, and conducts training on housing issues throughout California to ensure low-income rural families’ and farmworkers' access to safe and affordable housing.
In the area of Worker Health, CRLAF works to reduce agricultural work hazards and pesticide exposures faced by California’s agricultural workers and other rural residents. We collaborate and provide technical assistance to various partner organizations to educate policy makers, agency officials, and the public about heat stress, pesticide exposure and environmental health and safety hazards.