Latin Post: California Latino Legislative Caucus Invests $15 Million for Immigrant Services

October 09, 2015

By: Michael Oleaga

While the U.S. Congress stalls on immigration reform, California continues to invest millions of dollars for the immigrant community.

The California Latino Legislative Caucus, comprising of 22 California legislators, announced an investment of $15 million for qualified non-profit organizations providing immigrant-related services. In a statement released on Oct. 8, the caucus noted the investment follows the record-breaking $55 million investment in the state's budget agreement last June.

"Today, California is once again leading the way with significant and meaningful investments towards improving the lives of immigrants throughout the state," said California Latino Legislative Caucus Chairman Luis Alejo. "The California Latino Legislative Caucus has a rich history of standing with California's immigrant communities, and today's application release for the Immigrant Services funding program reflects our commitment to helping those in our state achieve the American dream, Citizenship."

Alejo, the Democratic assemblymember representing Salinas County, has previously commended California Gov. Jerry Brown for his progressive support for the immigrant community.

In June's agreement, most of the $55 million investment was primarily allocated for health services, regardless of an individual's immigration status. Funding was also distributed to improve immigrants' integration within Californian communities and labor force.

With the latest $15 million investment, eligible nonprofits are required to provide Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application assistance. DACA, which was created by President Barack Obama in June 2012, grants eligible undocumented immigrant youths with two-year temporary, but renewable, stays in the U.S., continue their education and obtain work authorization.

The latest investment would also provide application assistance for the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program. Obama introduced DAPA in November 2014, but its implementation, nationwide, is pending court decisions. If implemented, DAPA would provide undocumented immigrants parents the opportunity to request deferred action from deportation and obtain employment authorization if the parent lived in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2010, and has a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident child born on or before Nov. 20, 2014.

Nationally, Obama's November 2014 immigration executive actions would provide nearly 4.9 million undocumented immigrants with deferred action, and more than 1.5 million are estimated to be eligible in California

Eligible nonprofits have until Oct. 30 to apply for the latest immigrant services investment.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, California is home to 10.3 million foreign-born immigrants, of which half are of Latino origin.

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Contact the Reporter: Michael Oleaga / m.oleaga@latinpost.com