California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is a left-of-center policy think tank and advocacy organization that defends illegal immigrants. The center was founded as the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative in 1996 before rebranding as the California Immigrant Policy Center in 2018.
CIPC advocates for providing healthcare, unemployment benefits, tax credits, and taxpayer-funded job training for illegal immigrants. The center also opposes deportation of illegal immigrants, including those who commit local and state crimes, and aims to ban state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal law enforcement to enforce immigration law.
History
California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) was founded as the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative in 1996 in reaction to Proposition 187, which attempted to ban illegal immigrants from accessing taxpayer-funded social services. 3 The group later rebranded as the California Immigrant Policy Center, gaining tax-exempt status under that name in 2018. 4
The center is made up by a steering committee composed of 13 statewide organizations, 85 member organizations, and nine regional coalition partners. 1 The board of directors for the center includes Marc Philpart, executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund. 5 CIPC is also a local affiliate of the National Immigration Law Center. 2
California Immigrant Policy Center ’s policy prescriptions cover a wide range of immigration issues and focus on providing government benefits to illegal immigrants. The center advocates for universal access to government-run health care for all California residents regardless of immigration status or income level. 10
The center also advocates for non-health taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal immigrants equal to and beyond those received by American citizens. CIPC supports providing unemployment benefits and the Earned Income Tax Credit to illegal immigrants, waiving the requirement for a Social Security Number for employment, forcing companies to alert immigrant workers if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests information from them, and extensive affirmative action. In addition, the center claims credit for securing $40 million in taxpayer funding for job training for immigrants as well as prioritizing illegal immigrants over native Californians in the California COVID-19 stimulus package. 11
CIPC also opposes the enforcement of immigration law in any capacity. The center is a member of the ICE Out of California coalition, which seeks to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from operating within the state and to prevent state and local police from turning over immigrant criminals to ICE for deportation. In addition, CIPC is a member of the Check the Sheriff Coalition, with the goal of preventing local sheriffs from working with federal immigration law enforcement under threat of removal from office. The center supports Los Angeles being made a sanctuary city. 12
FOR CORE OPERATING SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND EXPAND ACCESS TO VITAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT POPULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA.
To support an organization focused on advancing immigrant health equity in California through advocacy, education, communications and capacity building.
To provide general operating support to California Immigrant Policy Center, California's leading statewide immigrant justice policy organization, which convenes and mobilizes a broad and diverse array of advocates towards transforming systems to achieve racial, gender, and economic justice, thereby promoting greater health equity and reducing domestic violence in the state
To support increased awareness, education, coordination and planning for a successful implementation of the Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented adults in California.
To support an organization strengthening immigrant resilience and health through sustainable supports and partnerships in the Central Valley of California.
To expand health coverage by creating an information hub and resource infrastructure to facilitate education, outreach and enrollment for undocumented Californians eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage.
To support increased awareness, education, coordination and planning for a successful implementation of the Medi-Cal expansion for undocumented adults in California.
TO ADVANCE THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY OF IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND STRENGTHEN REGIONAL ADVOCACY AND ORGANIZING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL IMMIGRANTS IN CALIFORNIA. OVER 18 MONTHS.; FOR COLAB TO ADVANCE NARRATIVE CHANGE CAPACITY BUILDING AND COLLABORATION ACROSS THE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS FIELD.
