Don’t let AB 931 close doors to justice for immigrants

OPINION – In recent weeks, Los Angeles witnessed mass protests in response to sweeping federal workplace raids. As ICE deployed National Guard troops and Marines in a show of force, our city responded with courage—standing up for immigrant families and rejecting fear-based intimidation. With nearly one million undocumented people in L.A., we cannot afford policies that deepen trauma or isolate entire communities. Communities in cities like Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, and Oakland also took to the streets, showing that this fight for dignity is statewide.

Yet at the same time, a less visible threat is brewing in Sacramento: Section 2 of Assembly Bill 931. Introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, this legislation would prohibit California attorneys from partnering with any out-of-state legal providers—regardless of their ethics, oversight, or proven success in helping clients. In a moment when immigrants in Los Angeles and across California are under direct attack, this provision will leave many with nowhere to turn.

I’m a Los Angeles-based immigration attorney who works every day with families, students, investors, entrepreneurs, and workers—many of whom are navigating complex legal challenges on limited budgets. I run a small firm that provides specialized services, relying on partnerships, technology, and innovation to make my work sustainable and affordable. I don’t take shortcuts, and I don’t compromise ethics. I offer care and clarity in an otherwise intimidating process.

My practice focuses on business and family-based immigration services—from investor visa applications to family reunification petitions. That work is rooted in compassion, cultural understanding, and a deep commitment to justice for the communities I serve. Like many solo and small-firm attorneys, I depend on strategic partnerships to share expertise, resources, lower costs, and expand access. Section 2 would threaten this model and take away a vital tool used to support immigrant families across our city and state.

Behind the legal jargon of Section 2 is a dangerous reality: fewer options, higher costs, and more barriers for communities already pushed to the margins. And it does so without evidence of harm. In fact, a 2025 report from Stanford Law School found that legal models in states like Arizona and Utah—where innovation is encouraged—have expanded access without increasing risk.

The need for access couldn’t be more urgent. According to the California State Bar’s 2024 Justice Gap Study, nearly 75% of households face a civil legal problem annually, yet only 18% seek help, and 85% receive no or inadequate support. In immigrant communities, the barriers are even greater—compounded by fear, language gaps, and financial constraints. Now we’re poised to legislate even more exclusion.

Los Angeles has always been a place where immigrant dreams take root—where families, artists, students, and small business owners from around the world come to build something better. From Koreatown to Boyle Heights, our neighborhoods are full of resilience and entrepreneurship. That spirit shouldn’t be punished—it should be supported by policies that recognize the reality of our city and the creative ways we provide legal care within it.

Angelenos are marching in the streets in defense of justice and dignity. But they shouldn’t have to go into the streets to defend their rights—they should be able to find counsel in a phone call or a community clinic. Section 2 of AB 931 moves us in the opposite direction.

Good governance expands access to legal tools—it doesn’t restrict them. It supports ethical attorney collaboration—not punishes innovation. And in moments of federal overreach, California must step up—not step back.

In 2025, no one can claim immigrant communities don’t need a legal lifeline. Section 2 of AB 931 would sever that lifeline for thousands—if not millions—of Californians. Legislators should listen to the people of Los Angeles and let their shared humanity—not bureaucracy—drive policy. That starts with protecting legal access and rejecting Section 2.

Lahaina Araneta is a Los Angeles-based immigration attorney. She represents clients navigating complex immigration processes.