State of California Urges Immigrants to Seek Public Benefits During COVID-19 Pandemic

Some immigrants worry that the public charge rule stops them from receiving government benefits or that using those benefits will hurt their ability to get a green card.

The federal government has said that using health care services for COVID-19 prevention, testing or treatment alone does not make you a public charge.

Medi-Cal care for COVID-19 related testing or treatment does NOT count under the public charge rule because it is the treatment of an emergency medical condition.

Local Organizations Providing Services for Immigrants

East Bay Community Law Center
(510) 548-4040
www.ebclc.org
Services: Consultation/intake, education outreach 

Multicultural Institute
(510) 847-1479
www.mionline.org
Services: Education Outreach

Immigration Institute of the Bay Area
(415) 538-8100 ext. 206
www.iibayarea.org
Services: Consultation/intake, education outreach

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant
(510) 540-5296
www.eastbaysanctuary.org
Services: Education outreach

Catholic Charities of California
(415) 324-1011
www.cceb.org
Services: California Disaster Relief Funds

Resources for Undocumented Residents During the Pandemic

Immigrants Rising is committed to serving undocumented communities during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They put together this list of resources to help undocumented immigrants navigate the crisis.

East Oakland Dreamers has developed a comprehensive list of COVID-19 resources and policy updates that is migrant-focused.

COVID19 Recursos para Comunidades Indocumentadas