Legal Services
Immigrant families should consult with a qualified immigration lawyer regarding their specific status and options. Centro Legal de la Raza, a leading non-profit legal service provider, offers a free immigration clinic on the third Thursday of every month from 9:00am to 12:00pm at:
Centro Legal de la Raza
3400 East 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94601
(510) 437-1554
info@centrolegal.org
In the East Bay, we also recommend the following free or low-cost legal service providers:
- Alameda County Public Defenders Office
- East Bay Community Law Center
- East Bay Sanctuary Covenant
- API Legal Outreach
- Catholic Charities of the East Bay
- International Institute of the Bay Area
Outside the Bay Area, we recommend consulting the National Immigration Legal Services Directory maintained by the Immigration Advocates Network.
Family Preparedness
Every family should have a plan for what to do in the case of an emergency. Additional considerations apply for immigrant or mixed-status families. IFDF helps East Bay parents develop preparedness plans, including guardian arrangements in the event a parent is detained or deported. Call (510) 241-3545 to find our about our next school-based guardianship workshop or to arrange a meeting with one of our trained volunteers.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has also developed a useful Family Preparedness guide in English, Spanish and Chinese.
Educator Resources
[Coming Soon]
Sanctuary Policy
In December 2016, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) reaffirmed its status as a sanctuary district. All students have the right to attend school in Oakland regardless of the immigration status of the child or of the child’s family members. District personnel are prohibited from inquiring about a student’s immigration status, asking for documentation of a student’s legal status, or requiring students to apply for Social Security numbers. For more information on OUSD’s sanctuary policy, see the FAQ and full resolution below:
- OUSD Statement and FAQ (Arabic)
- OUSD Statement and FAQ (Cambodian)
- OUSD Statement and FAQ (Chinese)
- OUSD Statement and FAQ (English)
- OUSD Statement and FAQ (Spanish)
- OUSD Statement and FAQ (Vietnamese)
- OUSD Sanctuary Resolution (Arabic)
- OUSD Sanctuary Resolution (Cambodian)
- OUSD Sanctuary Resolution (Chinese)
- OUSD Sanctuary Resolution (English)
- OUSD Sanctuary Resolution (Spanish)
- OUSD Sanctuary Resolution (Vietnamese)