Former USC Dean to Head LA’s Office of Immigrant Affairs

Mayor Eric Garcetti today appointed a former university dean to lead the recently revived Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Linda Lopez will be tasked with connecting Los Angeles' immigrant population to the various resources and services available to them, as well as studying the impact of immigration policy being debated nationally.

Lopez, previously an associate dean handling diversity programs at the University of Southern California, will “focus on building a dual-purpose office to help people access services and drive policy to integrate immigrants into the social, political, cultural, and economic fabric of the city of Los Angeles,” Garcetti said.

The office was originally started in 2004 during Antonio Villaraigosa's mayoral administration, but was later suspended due to budget constraints.

Garcetti restarted the office when he set up his administration.As a USC dean, Lopez created programs for students who are the first in their family to go to college. She holds a doctorate in political science from USC.

Lopez said she wants to “help L.A. immigrants cut through red tape.”

“Los Angeles is a city of immigrants, and they contribute significantly
to our communities and our economy,” she said. “Supporting their
participation in civic life will benefit everyone in our city.”

—City News Service