Immigration BRIEFS: Biden Expresses Thanks, Website Centralizes Immigrant Services, County Proposal Addresses Racism Against Asian Americans

Biden Thanks New U.S. Citizens for Choosing Us

NATIONAL – Reported by the Documented website through the Associated Press, President Joe Biden has released an official video message to new U.S. naturalized citizens, thanking them for “choosing us.” He went on to reference the “courage” these immigrants have when coming to the U.S. and how he is a descendant of Irish immigrants. “First and foremost, I want to thank you for choosing us and believing that America is worthy of your aspirations,” Biden said in the video. He also referred to the U.S. as a “great nation of immigrants.” The video was released by the White House and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services so new citizens and the public can watch it at home. 

Details: www./apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-immigration 

New Website Centralizes Services for Immigrants in LA County

LOS ANGELES –The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs launched a new mapping tool on April 7 to connect immigrants in LA County to services. The website, immigrants.lacounty.gov, has a map-based immigrant services directory. These services include COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, health care, food assistance, housing support and legal representation. In addition, the site provides access to information about public charge — an immigrant who has received one or more public benefits —  the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and evolving immigration policies.

The system is location-based, making nearby services easier to find, and easy to update so that it includes the latest accurate information. The new tool was created through a partnership among the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs, U.S. Digital Response and the County Enterprise Geographic Information Systems. U.S. Digital Response provided developers, content strategists, designers and data scientists.

During the pandemic, the LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs saw more inquiries into how immigrant status would be affected by using county services, as well as urgent requests for resources available to immigrants and their families.

Details: immigrants.lacounty.gov

Supervisors Approve Proposal to Address Racism Against Asian-Americans

LOS ANGELES –The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Holly Mitchell to include Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, which was originally created to address racism and violence against Black persons. The proposal asks Asian-American and Pacific Islander community leaders to consider ways to counter racism and incorporate those methods into the county’s anti-racism strategy. In addition, the proposal explores the creation of an LA County Equity and Diversity Fund, which would have an initial investment of $1 million. The fund will partner with research institutions to better understand, address and end hatred and discrimination against people of color.