International Institute of Los Angeles

International Institute of Los Angeles At IILA, our mission is to help families become self-sufficient and to promote cross-cultural understanding.

We have been transforming the lives of refugees, immigrants, and families in Southern California for 110 years, fostering a confident sense of agency, belonging, and inclusivity in our community. Founded in 1914 to help newly-arrived immigrants integrate into their new lives in Los Angeles, the International Institute of Los Angeles provides assistance to refugees and immigrants securing their fir

st job, getting legal help, or finding child care providers so they can work outside the home. For over a century, IILA has empowered hundreds of thousands of immigrants, refugees, and survivors of human trafficking with skills, abilities, and resources to successfully start new lives in Southern California.

We are proud and privileged to share the amazing story of a client whose incredible resilience reminds us of why we work...
08/10/2026

We are proud and privileged to share the amazing story of a client whose incredible resilience reminds us of why we work hard to provide life-changing resources and support every day.

Thanks to IILA Case Manager Yubi Teran and Our Heart Speaks for making this interview possible.

Far from just being a challenge, an asylum seeker from El Salvador ...

Imagine being trafficked by your own family from age 6 to sixteen, finally escaping to save your 1-year-old son from tra...
07/14/2026

Imagine being trafficked by your own family from age 6 to sixteen, finally escaping to save your 1-year-old son from trafficking, and now being at risk of losing your legal representation and being returned to the country of your traffickers. That's what "Nina" and over 20,000 other children are now facing because the Trump administration has strategically chosen not to pay the nonprofits representing them. And the program they're represented through--which has had bipartisan support for nearly 2 decades--is set to expire on July 31. Take action today to help: 1) share this post, 2) contact your members of Congress, and 3) donate to the network of lawyers representing these kids. Protect

Contact your members of Congress: tinyurl.com/protect-kids
Donate: tinyurl.com/kidsfund2

IILA is one of the organizations within the network of Acacia Center for Justice, which currently holds the contract for representation of these children. Our legal team represents children through this long-standing program for unaccompanied children.

Our 2025 Annual Report is available now! It contains both stories and statistics of how together our supporters and staf...
07/09/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is available now! It contains both stories and statistics of how together our supporters and staff made a difference amidst a challenging year. We're grateful to all of IILA's friends who helped make 2025 a year of meeting the moment. Visit https://iilosangeles.org/about/annual-report/ to view the report and learn more.

As advocates for unaccompanied immigrant children, IILA is concerned that a recent request by the Trump administration s...
07/06/2026

As advocates for unaccompanied immigrant children, IILA is concerned that a recent request by the Trump administration signals that officials will attempt rapid mass deportations of children via Texas.

According to the Texas Tribune, "Jonathan White, a former deputy director of ORR during Trump’s first administration, said that the recent effort is a 'transparent part of a larger pattern of moving all of the program’s capabilities and resources into Texas with a friendly political partnership with the governor’s office there and the proximity to the border in order to turn all of these systems into platforms for removal.'"

Please share this article and information with your networks to raise awareness and push back on these coordinated efforts against immigrant children.

Immigration rights experts worry that the recent inquiry is the latest sign Trump is interested in transferring unaccompanied minors to the state, where it is easier to quickly deport them.

As we commemorate Independence Day this weekend, we invite you to reflect on what it means to be an American and the val...
07/03/2026

As we commemorate Independence Day this weekend, we invite you to reflect on what it means to be an American and the value of American citizenship today. We share the reflection of an IILA Case Manager to inspire your own thoughts.

While we applaud the decision of the Supreme Court this week to uphold birthright citizenship, the court's decision on TPS weighs heavily, as do the continued actions of the current administration to vilify, scapegoat, persecute, and deny due process to immigrants--across the country, at our borders, and abroad. May American citizens use this year's holiday to recommit themselves to upholding dignity and justice for all, regardless of nation of origin.

At IILA, we remain committed to our mission of providing transformative services for refugees, immigrants, and low-income families by working families by promoting self-sufficiency, strengthening resiliency, and honoring cultural identities.

As we close another week of Immigrant Heritage Month, we uplift the memory of an IILA staff member from our Legal Divisi...
06/26/2026

As we close another week of Immigrant Heritage Month, we uplift the memory of an IILA staff member from our Legal Division as part of our "Remembrance As Resistance" series.

While sharing the success of this family of clients, we also honor and shed light on all who have been waiting for fair access to relief under U.S. immigration law. We especially highlight those who have pending green card applications and are stuck in review or paused.

Having a green card today can mean the difference between not only legal protection or persecution but also the ability to put food on your family's table and have affordable access to medical care. Learn more here: https://iilosangeles.org/one-big-beautiful-bill-nine-months-later-the-damage-is-here/

Join IILA's Supportive Services team at this year's SFV Pride Festival. We'll have a table at the resource fair to share...
06/24/2026

Join IILA's Supportive Services team at this year's SFV Pride Festival. We'll have a table at the resource fair to share information about home water and heating electrification advantages and affordability options.

San Fernando Valley Pride .pride

June 20th is World Refugee Day — a day to honor those who have survived war, persecution, and unimaginable loss. 🌍This y...
06/19/2026

June 20th is World Refugee Day — a day to honor those who have survived war, persecution, and unimaginable loss. 🌍

This year, a new crisis is unfolding. Because of H.R. 1, refugees in California have been losing food stamp access since April 1. At IILA, we are seeing parents who escaped violence now worried about how to feed their children.

No one who has fled for their life should ever wonder where their next meal will come from.

A gift of just $45 can provide a food voucher — one week of fresh produce for a family of three, or basic ingredients for a family of four to make nourishing dinners.

This World Refugee Day, will you stand with our refugee neighbors and make sure they are not forgotten? 💙

Donate here: https://webforms.eleoonline.com/FormDatas/244/56b14d4e-fc33-4668-aeb7-1b191987486f

Join IILA's Supportive Services team at the Kick It In the Park watch party at Lanark Park this Sat, June 20th! We'll ha...
06/17/2026

Join IILA's Supportive Services team at the Kick It In the Park watch party at Lanark Park this Sat, June 20th! We'll have a resource table to share information about home water and heating electrification advantages and affordability options. Enjoy the game, the atmosphere, and connect to community resources!

Lanark Recreation Center Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

This week, we highlight the memory of an IILA Case Manager who witnessed the transformation of "Sara", a young girl who ...
06/16/2026

This week, we highlight the memory of an IILA Case Manager who witnessed the transformation of "Sara", a young girl who struggled with her initial adjustment after being separated from most of her family. We celebrate her resilience and our team who helped make her flourishing possible.

We also remember and uplift all young people around the world who have experienced hardship and family separation as we approach World Refugee Day on June 20th. We honor in particular the young people being separated from family right here in the United States. May we work together for their reunification and an end to family separation.

Address

3845 Selig Place
Los Angeles, CA
90031

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13232243800

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