LIBRE serves San Mateo County immigrant communities. Many immigrants do not apply for government benefits because they think receiving benefits will affect their immigration options, or expose their family to negative consequences. LIBRE aims to educate our immigrant community about the different safety net services available, link them to specific agencies in their communities that can assist them with the enrollment process, and provide accurate information concerning their immigration options. LIBRE also provides limited immigration representation and assistance, including consultations and assistance with VAWA, U VISA, and SIJS for teen parents and their families and other vulnerable immigrants.
LIBRE is a collaborative project comprised of trusted community partners including the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Redwood City Together, Nuestra Casa, Coastside Hope, the Redwood City Community Schools, and the San Mateo County Human Services Agency. We work with three assistor locations—Nuestra Casa in East Palo Alto, Coastside Hope in Half Moon Bay, and the Fair Oaks Community Center in Redwood City—to provide holistic client services. LIBRE provides legal advice and representation related to:
Medi-Cal
CalFresh (food stamps)
CalWORKs
Social Security/SSI/CAPI
U Visa (immigration relief for crime survivors)
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)
SIJS (immigration relief for minor survivors of parental abuse, neglect, or abandonment)
Certain other immigration cases
You can arrange to meet with a LIBRE attorney by calling 650-517-8936 to schedule an appointment.
If you need help applying for Public Benefits you can go to one of our Assistors Locations:
Nuestra Casa
2396 University Ave
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Fair Oaks Community Center
2600 Middlefield Road
Redwood City, CA 94063
Coastside Hope
248 Main St, #200
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
You can read more about LIBRE at the project’s website below or by calling (650) 517-8936.
Immigration Aid for Teen Parents
Legal Aid’s Teen Parents’ Project provides confidential answers to teen parents’ questions as well as legal representation and advice, and teens are welcome to call just to ask questions. We help abused teens apply for immigration relief such as U Visas for themselves and their families, Special Immigration Juvenile Status (SIJS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Legal Aid keeps all information confidential – which means that we will not tell anyone what our teen clients tell us unless they give us permission or tell us they are planning to commit a serious crime that could hurt someone else.
How can you protect yourself and your family from ICE?
Click below to watch an immigrant-focused “Know Your Rights” presentation featuring Legal Aid SMC attorneys. This presentation was a joint effort between our LIBRE team, County of San Mateo Immigrant Services, and Faith in Action Bay Area. It was originally livestreamed on February 27, 2025.
Here are 4 easy steps for you to act on NOW. Click below to download MAPA for easy access!
In case of ICE contact or sightings, call the Rapid Response Hotline at 1-203-666-4472.
Know your rights. Keep the Red Card handy at all times.
Create a Family Preparedness Plan for you and your family in case someone is detained.
Contact an immigration attorney about your legal options before speaking or signing anything.
Public Charge
Unsure about the most recent Public Charge rules and how they may affect you? Visit KeepYourBenefits.org to learn more about public charge and immigration.
LIBRE Project Updates
LIBRE Partners
Coastside Hope
(650) 726-9071
www.coastsidehope.org
Core Service Center serving El Granada, Half Moon Bay, Miramar, Montara, & Moss Beach
Nuestra Casa
(650) 330-7482
www.nuestracasa.org
Community education organization dedicated to increasing civic participation and promoting economic self-sustainability of the Latino immigrant population of East Palo Alto and the area served by the Ravenswood City School District.
Redwood City Together
(650) 423-2207
www.rwctogether.org
A collaboration involving 8 public and nonprofit organizations that serve children, youth and families that live in Redwood City and unincorporated North Fair Oaks.
San Mateo County Human Services Agency
For Public Assistance call: 1 (800) 223-8383
https://www.smcgov.org/hsa
Public agency administering federal and state-mandated social services programs and locally funded supportive services to San Mateo County residents in need or in crisis.
Removal Defense Partners:
University of San Francisco School of Law Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) (training and technical assistance)
Affirmative Legal Services partners:
Rapid Response partners:
Legal Aid SMC would like to thank the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, San Mateo County Health Care for the Homeless/Farmworker Health Program of the San Mateo County Medical Center, the Heising-Simons Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Northern California Community Benefit Program, the Grove Foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, AT&T, and individual donors for their funding support of LIBRE.