TODEC Legal Center

TODEC's mission is to empower disenfranchised immigrant communities to become economically, socially, educationally, and civically self-sufficient while enhancing individual self-esteem and community health. The overall purpose of TODEC is to ensure equitable access to information, immigration legal services, community education, advocacy, and civic engagement for limited and non-English speaking people including immigrants and migrant workers.

TODEC was founded in the early 1980's to address the many injustices impacting farmworkers and immigrants the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire. Our founders saw firsthand how our farmworker immigrant community continued to be treated harshly by employers, profiled by police and immigration, and ignored by politicians. In response, they founded TODEC to help their fellow recent immigrants learn English, know their rights, and have access to immigration legal services. Because of our location less than 100 miles from the border, ICE maintains a constant, fear-inspiring presence in our towns targeting hard-working people and tearing families apart. Despite these threats, we know our community is filled with beauty, passion, and power. TODEC mobilizes our community to build the political power we need to demand justice and advocate for our needs- improved schools, better jobs, cleaner water, accessible housing, access
to medical coverage and legal protections. We transform fear and injustice into the power of people to stay resilient, connected and organized to fight back using our voices, our values and our votes. https://youtu.be/PtCTZW-BKIA?si=DP8rsRTAzkT9hXJN

Testimonials

Thanks to TODEC I was able to obtain my US Citizenship. My daughter is part of TODEC youth program where she learned leadership & life skills. She graduated from college and is committed to give back to her community that saw her grow. Thank you Maria Lopez , Coachella, Ca