Latest “State of Immigrants” report reveals ongoing barriers for L.A. County’s fastest-growing group

Over 800,000 of L.A. County immigrants are undocumented, and many households have no health insurance or computer access.

Over 3 million Los Angeles County residents are immigrants, according to the newest report from USC’s Equity Research Institute. But these diverse communities, facing longstanding barriers, still struggle to get culturally competent services, food security, medical treatment and other resources, researchers say.

The latest State of Immigrants in L.A. County (SOILA) report — launched at the 5th annual Immigration Summit, hosted by the California Community Foundation in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 11 — captures the work of local immigrant-serving institutions. Alongside new data on how L.A.’s diverse population and its needs are growing, USC researchers highlight ongoing struggles and recommend ways of reaching equity.

Data analysts Cynthia Moreno, Khia Duncan, and Equity Research Institute director Manuel Pastor presented these findings Thursday at the Immigration Summit, a virtual and in-person event held at the Los Angeles Trade–Technical College on July 11 and 12.

Some of the key data points in the 2023 SOILA report include:

• At 3.5 million, immigrants make up 34% of L.A. County. 
• There are over 800,000 undocumented immigrants in the region.
• Over 1 million L.A. residents live with someone who is undocumented.
• Half of undocumented L.A. County residents lack high-speed internet or a computer at home.
• L.A. immigrants have contributed over $10 billion to state and local taxes, as of 2019.
• Around 36% of L.A.’s undocumented immigrants do not have health insurance.
• More than half of immigrant renters (60%) are rent-burdened, meaning they spend 30% or more of their income on housing.

The researchers said that the annual report tracks changes in L.A. County’s immigrant population over time, and provides recommendations to local officials and organizations on how they can better support those in need. It also shares anecdotes and examples from community leaders and organizations about policies and other resources that can help. 

The report should be a “jumping-off point” for legislators and activists to enact change, said Pastor.

“We’re aware that data does not change the world,” Pastor said. “What changes the world is organizing. What changes the world is politics. What changes the world is policy, and you’re going to see progress in this report.”

With the current election year, the SOILA report warns that the way some may view L.A.’s increasingly diverse communities could become “even more hostile,” and “reference immigrants as targets for both promises and attacks.”

It cites ongoing issues from immigration policies during the administration of former President Donald Trump — who in June, during the first presidential debate, vowed to reseal the borders if reelected — and restricted asylum protections at the southern border. The report calls for lasting infrastructure and support for undocumented immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers; many of whom are often “left to continue the difficult process of resettlement without public assistance as they wait for applications to process and face deportation, despite having valid claims to stay—all the while, enduring isolation in an unfamiliar landscape.”

Researchers also warn against policies that add to a “good vs. bad immigrant narrative” that could cast some “as flawed or undeserving,” or that promote competition — rather than collaboration — between groups.

World events have left “lasting impacts on the ways immigrants across the U.S. care for their health,” the report said. “The threat of being labeleda ‘public charge’ for accessing certain public benefits… has left many uneasy about accessing resources they qualify for, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a physical and emotional toll on immigrant communities.”

Reports of rising hate crimes in these communities also “continue to be a reality,” the report said.

The USC researchers called for “an approach that places immigrant inclusion within the broader fight for racial justice. Having a strong coalitional infrastructure that supports equity for all, including immigrants, will help our region respond to any changing federal context.”

Despite highlighting key issues immigrants often face, researcher Moreno pointed out that the SOILA “under-sampled other key demographic groups, such as those with diverse gender identities, as well as Latino immigrants and Asian American immigrants.”

Los Angeles is home to many organizations that work to support diverse immigrants through programs and policies, advocates say.

Local colleges, universities and community colleges have Dream Resource Centers and similar programs that provide legal services and allyship workshops for undocumented students and those from mixed-status households.

Language access is another barrier immigrants often face, particularly within the medical fields, housing and government, the report said. A “lack of language accessibility for vital services and information has inflicted significant harm upon immigrant communities, pointing to the need to view language access as a human.”

Linguistic isolation can also “disconnect many from their communities,” said Duncan.

For any language barriers, groups like the South Asian Network and African Coalition provide multilingual resources to increase representation in settings like the healthcare field — a much-needed resource in L.A., according to the report.

Earlier this year, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a countywide language access plan to strengthen and streamline language services across all county departments.

In 2021, former L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti signed legislation that mandates every L.A. City department to designate a language access liaison to help implement services and a language access plan.

The SOILA report also suggests other ways to build on “immigrant integration and inclusion” — from expanding affordable healthcare access and culturally competent resources, to employing diverse staff who reflect the communities they serve.

Increasing programs — such as CalFresh — to combat poverty and food insecurity has also “demonstrated impacts on alleviating poverty and reducing food insecurity,” the report noted. It also cited the recent expansion of Medi-Cal coverage to include all income-eligible adults, regardless of immigration status across the state, as a “historic win.” Programs like the county’s Represent L.A. are helping to bring these services to those in need.

Other areas to improve include expanding housing access and investing in Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, according to the report.

USC’s Pastor agreed that the SOILA data is not only a way to track, but to also push progress forward by highlighting what still needs to be done.

“We don’t want a set of policies that are just a little bit less cruel than the other guys,” Pastor said. “We want a world in which people can actually find hope, live at peace, and make progress as a community.”