C R L A Foundation

CRLAF WORKS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR FARMWORKERS AND THE UNDERSERVED IN RURAL CALIFORNIA THROUGH OUTREACH, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, CLASS ACTION LITIGATION, AND DIRECT REPRESENTATION. IN 2021, WE STRENGTHENED LAWS AND POLICIES PROTECTING WORKERS' RIGHTS AND HEALTH; WORKED TO REDUCE AGRICULTURAL WORK HAZARDS AND PESTICIDE EXPOSURES FACED BY FARMWORKERS AND RURAL RESIDENTS; HELPED KEEP IMMIGRANT FAMILIES TOGETHER; IMPROVED ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION; HELPED CALIFORNIANS LIVING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES SECURE, CLEAN AND RELIABLE DRINKING WATER; AND PREVENTED HOMELESSNESS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

CRLAF'S CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION UNIT'S COLLECTIVE WORK IS ORGANIZED ACROSS FOUR DIFFERENT PROJECT AREAS: CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION, REMOVAL DEFENSE, SAN JOAQUIN IMMIGRANT EMPOWERMENT, AND THE SACRAMENTO FUEL NETWORK. THE CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION PROJECT PROVIDES COMMUNITY EDUCATION, LEGAL TRAINING TO QUALIFIED LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS, ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE IMMIGRANTS APPLYING FOR AFFIRMATIVE IMMIGRATION BENEFITS, AND REPRESENTATION BEFORE USCIS AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW. THE REMOVAL DEFENSE PROJECT PROVIDES DIRECT REPRESENTATION IN DETAINED AND NON-DETAINED COURT CASES AND COORDINATES THE SACRAMENTO IMMIGRATION COURT'S SACRAMENTO ATTORNEY OF THE DAY (AOD) PROGRAM. THE AOD PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND SCHEDULING SUPPORT TO PRO BONO ATTORNEYS TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD LACK REPRESENTATION IN IMMIGRATION COURT. THE SAN JOAQUIN IMMIGRANT EMPOWERMENT PROJECT'S WORK CENTERS AROUND THE COMPLEX INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS, AND IMMIGRATION LAW. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE FOCUSED ESPECIALLY ON PROVIDING IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, AND LEGAL TRAINING. THE PROJECT ALSO PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS ADDRESSING TWO MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES: THE ADMINISTRATION'S PUBLIC CHARGE RULE AND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE CITY COUNCIL OF SACRAMENTO ESTABLISHED THE SACRAMENTO FAMILY UNITY, EDUCATION, AND LEGAL (FUEL) NETWORK FOR IMMIGRANTS IN 2017, A ROBUST COLLABORATIVE OF OVER EIGHTY SACRAMENTO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS, VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY GROUPS, LABOR UNIONS, FAITH-BASED GROUPS, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE ALL ACTIVELY WORKING TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. CRLAF HAS SERVED AS FISCAL LEAD FOR THE NETWORK SINCE ITS INITIATION.WE ADDITIONALLY PROVIDED REGULAR IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF AT DELTA COLLEGE AND SURVIVORS OF CRIME AT A WOMEN'S CENTER. MOST OF CRLAF'S IMMIGRATION CASES IN THIS REGION ARE HUMANITARIAN CASES, SUCH AS U VISA, T VISA, OR VAWA APPLICATIONS. FROM SAN JOAQUIN TO NEAR FRESNO COUNTY, CRLAF IS ONE OF THE ONLY ORGANIZATIONS CURRENTLY TAKING THESE TYPES OF CASES AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT, AS MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO HIRE A PRIVATE ATTORNEY, AND THERE IS A HUGE UNMET NEED FOR ATTORNEYS TO TAKE ON HUMANITARIAN AID CASES PRO BONO IN THIS REGION. CRLAF PLANS TO CONTINUE BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY TO SUPPORT SUCH WORK MOVING FORWARD.

PESTICIDE AND WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY PROJECT:THIS PROJECT WORKS TO BRING ATTENTION TO AND REDUCE AGRICULTURAL WORK HAZARDS AND PESTICIDE EXPOSURES FACED BY CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND OTHER RURAL RESIDENTS THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LEGAL SERVICES ADVOCATES. THE PROJECT MAINTAINS AN OPEN DIALOGUE WITH CAL-OSHA AND LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PESTICIDE AND REGULATORY LABOR OFFICIALS TO ENCOURAGE MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS, STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING LAWS AND REGULATIONS, AND INCREASED USE OF SAFER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PEST CONTROL ALTERNATIVES. WE ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP OUTREACH MATERIALS, TO ENSURE THAT CURRENT PESTICIDE AND WORK SAFETY LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND PUBLIC RECORDS, AND THE PESTICIDE INCIDENTS REPORTING PROCESS ARE FULLY UNDERSTOOD. WE COLLABORATE WITH MEMBERS OF OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO EDUCATE POLICY MAKERS, AGENCY OFFICIALS, AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT PESTICIDE EXPOSURE, HEAT STRESS, AND OTHER WORK AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS AFFECTING CALIFORNIA'S RURAL POOR. LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT PROJECT:THIS PROJECT MONITORS STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION OF IMPORTANCE TO FARMWORKERS, ACTS AS A WATCHDOG OVER OPERATION OF THE FEDERAL H-2A AGRICULTURAL GUEST WORKER PROGRAM IN CALIFORNIA, AND TAKES POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF FARMWORKER INTEREST IN STATE INITIATED REGULATORY ACTIONS OFFERING GREATER OPPORTUNITIES AND PROTECTION TO THIS CLASS, AND OPPOSITION TO LEGISLATION THREATENING SUCH RIGHTS.FIELD SERVICES:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, RURAL HOUSING, RURAL HEALTH, PESTICIDES AND WORKER SAFETY, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LEGAL SERVICE ADVOCATES, AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT TO QUALIFIED LEGAL SERVICES PROJECTS ON ISSUES AFFECTING FARMWORKER AND OTHER LOW-WAGE WORKER ISSUES, AS WELL AS CO-COUNSELING ON LABOR, EMPLOYMENT, AND CIVIL RIGHTS MATTERS.RURAL HOUSING PROJECT:THIS PROJECT ENGAGES IN LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY ON LOW-INCOME RURAL AND FARMWORKER HOUSING ISSUES, AND CONDUCTS TRAININGS ON HOUSING ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THROUGH ITS PARTICIPATION ON SEVERAL COALITIONS AND COMMITTEES. OUR TEAM ADVOCATES AT THE LOCAL AND STATEWIDE LEVELS TO ESTABLISH ADEQUATE PROTECTIONS TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME RENTERS FACING HABITABILITY, OVERCROWDING, AND POTENTIAL CONVICTIONS. LABOR AND CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION PROJECT:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN RURAL CALIFORNIA. LITIGATION EFFORTS FOCUS ON FARMWORKERS AND OTHER LOW-WAGE WORKERS INELIGIBLE FOR LEGAL SERVICES FROM FEDERALLY-FUNDED LEGAL AID PROGRAMS, OR WHOSE INTERESTS ARE BEST REPRESENTED IN A CLASS ACTION. CRLAF TARGETS EMPLOYERS AND LANDLORDS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEPLORABLE WORKING AND HOUSING CONDITIONS. SPECIFIC AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, REPRESENTING WORKERS AND TENANTS IN CASES INVOLVING: WAGE THEFT, VIOLATION OF WORKPLACE SAFETY STANDARDS, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION, WORKPLACE HOUSING HABITABILITY ISSUES, UNLAWFUL DETAINERS, AND PESTICIDE EXPOSURE. THE TEAM PROVIDES VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATIONS ON HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT TOPICS, CREATES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON ACCESSING CRITICAL SAFETY-NET SUPPORTS, SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, FOOD BANKS OR BENEFITS, AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON WORKERS AND TENANTS' RIGHTS UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW.

LEGAL SERVICES SUPPORT: (STATE TRUST FUNDING): CRLAF'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS A STATEWIDE SUPPORT CENTER. CRLAF ADVOCATES TO PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND ADVOCACY SUPPORT TO QUALIFIED LEGAL SERVICES PROJECTS TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO REPRESENT LOW-WAGE WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH ACCESS, HOUSING, PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND DISASTER RELIEF ELIGIBILITY. CRLAF ALSO ENGAGES IN CLASS ACTION LITIGATION, CO-COUNSELING, AND DIRECT REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENT CLIENTS WHO ARE INELIGIBLE FOR FEDERALLY-FUNDED LEGAL SERVICES DUE TO IMMIGRATION STATUS.