AG Bonta Announces Free or Low-Cost Immigration Help for Californians

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is urging immigrant families to seek help now, stressing that free or low-cost immigration legal services are available statewide through a network of state-funded programs and nonprofit partners. His message, delivered as of September 11, 2025, follows a year of stepped-up federal immigration enforcement and renewed worries among mixed-status households, students, and workers across California.

The state’s response centers on the California Department of Social Services’ Immigration Services Funding effort, which supports removal defense, youth services, and general immigration help for people who can’t afford a lawyer.

Program overview and funding

At the heart of this system is the CDSS Immigration Services Funding (ISF) Program, authorized under Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 13300–13307.

• For the State Fiscal Year 2023–2024, CDSS allocated about $36.8 million to qualified nonprofits that deliver legal services, education, and outreach across California.
• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this scale of state support has become a national marker for how a single state can step in when families face complex court deadlines, detention risks, or time-sensitive filings.
• California officials say the goal is simple: make sure people who qualify for legal relief can find a trained advocate quickly, no matter their zip code or language.

“When families have a fair chance to present their case, community trust increases, and people are more likely to attend court, update addresses, and follow legal instructions.” — Attorney General Rob Bonta (paraphrased summary of his framing)

State-Funded Network Expands in 2025

CDSS expanded its administrative partnerships in 2025 to reach communities where need is high and attorney access is thin.

• Regional administrators now serve major immigrant population centers, including Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire.
• The aim is to improve service quality and speed so residents can get a screening, start a case, or attend a “Know Your Rights” workshop without long waits.

CDSS-funded organizations offer a broad menu of help:
– Legal consultations to check eligibility for relief
– Representation in removal defense and bond hearings
– Help with family-based petitions, naturalization, and citizenship applications
– Support for asylum, T visas, U visas, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
– Community education to avoid scams and notario fraud, plus rights trainings

Role of colleges and universities

California’s colleges and universities are central to the delivery model:

• The California Community Colleges system, working with CDSS and the Foundation for California Community Colleges, provides free immigration legal services on 65 campuses statewide, focusing on undocumented students, staff, and faculty. Services include DACA renewals, family petitions, citizenship applications, and outreach.
• The University of California system supports immigrant and undocumented students and families through the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center, which offers direct legal help, campus outreach, and guidance on DACA and SIJS.

Why these services matter now

Federal immigration enforcement intensified in mid-2025, including large-scale ICE actions in Los Angeles in June. The federal escalation included major funding for enforcement operations, heightening fears of arrests and prolonged detention.

• California’s response emphasizes legal representation, rights education, and fast access to screenings that can identify defenses before a court date arrives.
• The state has moved to counter the fallout from earlier federal cuts to legal aid. Under President Trump, a $28 million federal contract for immigrant legal services ended, creating widespread gaps. State officials and advocates say California’s funding increases have helped blunt the harm from those cuts.

How to get help now

The first step is to connect with a trusted legal service provider. CDSS maintains a public overview of the ISF program, including how funding supports free and low-cost services and where to find help.

• Learn more at the California Department of Social Services Immigration Services Bureau page here: California Department of Social Services – Immigration Services Programs. This is the state’s official clearinghouse for program information and grantee details.

Several organizations offer direct intake lines and online screening for urgent matters:

• For immigration court matters in Southern California, Legal Aid at Los Angeles provides representation and referrals. Call 1-877-534-2524 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). More information is available at Legal Aid at Work – Immigration.
• Students in the California Community Colleges system can book appointments with campus legal providers. Services prioritize undocumented students, staff, and faculty and include workshops and one-on-one help.
• UC students and their families can reach the UC Immigrant Legal Services Center for free consultations and representation at UC Immigrant Legal Services Center.
• In the Bay Area, residents can seek help from Bay Area Legal Aid, which offers free civil legal services, including immigration assistance.

Be cautious of scams and unlicensed practitioners

• Attend “Know Your Rights” trainings offered by many nonprofits to learn how to spot scams, what to do if ICE shows up, and how to prepare emergency plans for children.
• Workshops often cover fee waivers, language access, and steps to gather documents for future filings.

Common needs and case types

Community groups report the most common needs include:
– Bond hearings
– Initial asylum screenings
– Temporary Protected Status (TPS) questions
– DACA renewals, where applicable
– Marriage-based petitions and citizenship applications for long-time permanent residents
– SIJS for children who have faced abuse, neglect, or abandonment and need relief through state court findings

Each case type has specific rules, deadlines, and evidence requirements, so early legal help makes a real difference.

Equity, access, and outreach

California’s approach seeks to close the gap between urban and rural access:

• Many farmworker and mixed-status families live far from legal hubs; CDSS’s expanded regional administration aims to reach these communities via local partners, mobile clinics, and campus-based services.
• Effective programs hire and retain staff attorneys, offer interpreters, and hold regular hours in trusted community spaces like schools and libraries.
• Examples:
  • A mixed-status family in the Central Valley might meet a lawyer at a community college to review past orders and design a plan for an enforcement action.
  • A Bay Area student may receive timely DACA renewal help and an on-campus “Know Your Rights” session.
  • A recent arrival in San Diego seeking asylum could get a clear list of documents to gather, a safety plan for court dates, and representation at a hearing.

Capacity challenges and the road ahead

State leaders and legal experts warn that demand will likely grow as federal policy shifts and enforcement resources expand.

• Nonprofits report full calendars and long waitlists, especially for complex cases and detained clients.
• The most effective programs combine:
  1. Triage screenings
  2. Workshop-based application help
  3. Full-scope representation for people in removal proceedings
• Partnerships with schools, faith groups, labor unions, and clinics help reach residents who might otherwise stay in the shadows.

California’s budget debates in 2025 include proposals to keep Immigration Services Funding strong and expand outreach to rural and underserved areas. Lawmakers are weighing how to sustain removal defense and youth legal services as enforcement activity rises.

• Advocates point to the need for more capacity to screen cases quickly after raids or policy changes, particularly in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and agricultural regions where transportation and childcare remain barriers.

Policy watchers note the model partly emerged to fill gaps left by federal cuts under the prior administration and to counter stepped-up ICE operations. With billions in federal funds now supporting enforcement, state officials argue that a stronger civil legal system is necessary to:

• Reduce wrongful detentions
• Help eligible residents secure relief they already qualify for under federal law

The next test will be whether the state’s investments can keep pace with demand through the end of 2025.

Final takeaways and practical advice

• The message from Sacramento is clear: help is available, and people should not wait.
• If you or a family member needs help with removal defense, asylum, a family petition, or citizenship, contact a trusted nonprofit funded by CDSS or a college-based legal provider.
• Practical steps:
  • Bring your documents
  • Keep records of all court notices
  • Attend every appointment

Free or low-cost legal help can make the difference between missing a deadline and presenting a strong case.