California has the largest immigrant population of any state in the nation. In 2024, 28% of California’s total population was foreign-born, more than double the national average of 14.8%, with roughly 10.9 million immigrants calling California home. Nearly half of all California children (44%) have at least one immigrant parent. The state’s immigrant communities span every nationality, with the largest populations from Mexico (3.95 million), the Philippines (856,000), China (823,000), India (626,000), Vietnam (514,000), and El Salvador (456,000).
California’s immigration landscape is simultaneously one of the most supportive and most contested in the country. The state has enacted protective laws, including sanctuary state policies, access to state driver’s licenses for all residents regardless of status, and in-state tuition for undocumented students, while also being at the center of federal enforcement escalation. As of early 2026, ICE has arrested over 5,800 immigrants statewide since January 2025, a 123% increase over 2024 in raids spanning private homes, workplaces, bus stops, and store parking lots.
At Aftalion Law Group, we understand that navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration law can be overwhelming, especially in today’s ever-changing legal landscape. While our offices are located in Los Angeles and New York, we proudly serve clients across the United States, including California. Whether you’re in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or anywhere else in the state, our experienced immigration lawyers in California are here to help you achieve your goals.
California is served by multiple immigration courts, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Imperial, and Concord. These courts collectively face some of the most severe backlogs in the country.
The San Francisco Immigration Court, which serves cases from Portland through California’s Central Valley, had over 120,000 pending cases in fiscal year 2025, with immigrants waiting an average of 914 days from their first notice to appear. In January 2026, the Trump administration announced the planned closure of the main San Francisco courthouse at 100 Montgomery St., which is expected to further delay cases for Northern California clients as cases transfer to the remaining courts. The Concord court, opened in 2024 specifically to ease San Francisco’s pressure, has also lost judges and faces a growing backlog.
The Los Angeles immigration court system is among the three largest in the country by caseload. Both San Francisco and Los Angeles had some of the highest ICE Alternatives to Detention (ATD) monitoring enrollment in the nation as of mid-2025, with San Francisco’s ATD program ranking first in the country at over 20,000 enrolled individuals.
606 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90014
Serving one of the largest immigrant populations in the U.S., this court handles a wide range of cases, including asylum, removal proceedings, and family-based immigration.
100 Montgomery St. #800, San Francisco, CA 94104
This court serves the Bay Area and handles cases involving employment-based visas, asylum, and more.
880 Front St., San Diego, CA 92101
Located near the U.S.-Mexico border, this court deals with a high volume of asylum and deportation defense cases.
650 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814
Serving Northern California, this court handles a variety of immigration matters, including family-based and employment-based cases.
Aftalion Law Group provides immigration legal services to clients throughout California, including the following counties and cities:
Los Angeles County (Los Angeles)
San Diego County (San Diego)
Orange County (Anaheim, Santa Ana)
Santa Clara County (San Jose)
San Francisco County (San Francisco)
Alameda County (Oakland)
Sacramento County (Sacramento)
Riverside County (Riverside)
San Bernardino County (San Bernardino)
Ventura County (Oxnard)
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
Oakland
Sacramento
Long Beach
Fresno
Anaheim
Santa Ana
Riverside
Bakersfield
Stockton
Chula Vista
No matter where you are in California, our team is ready to assist you with your immigration needs.
At Aftalion Law Group, we offer comprehensive immigration law services tailored to the needs of California residents, including but not limited to:
Priority practice areas for California residents include removal defense (urgent, given the 123% increase in statewide ICE arrests), asylum (particularly for Central American, Chinese, and South Asian applicants), employment-based immigration (H-1B, L-1, EB-1, EB-2 NIW for California’s tech and biotech corridors), DACA (California has the largest DACA population in the country at approximately 160,000 recipients), VAWA applications, and family-based immigration. Federal Mandamus actions are increasingly valuable for California clients with cases stuck in courts facing judge shortages.
Immigration laws and policies are constantly evolving. Our team regularly publishes updates and insights on our blog to keep you informed about changes that may impact your case. Be sure to check back often or contact us directly for a consultation.
Navigating the U.S. immigration system takes experienced legal guidance — and in California, local knowledge of courts, processing offices, and enforcement patterns matters. Contact Aftalion Law Group today for a free case evaluation. We are ready to help you and your family move forward.
