IILA in South Pasadena Review: “Local Immigration Institutions Are In Limbo”
IILA in South Pasadena Review: “Local Immigration Institutions Are In Limbo”
May 2, 2025
“The immigration system is in flux and so is the personal life of Cambria Tortorelli, CEO of the International Institute of Los Angeles.
‘It’s the hardest time I’ve ever had,’ said Tortorelli, who was previously administrator of Holy Family Catholic Church, before being named in 2021 to lead IILA.
The organization has been in existence since 1914, helping immigrants resettle in America and playing a role in every immigrant and refugee wave to this country since the group’s founding.
‘It’s been heartbreaking and cruel seeing what is being done to immigrants,’ said Tortorelli. ‘So many people don’t seem to care for immigrants. It’s mind-boggling to me. It has been a difficult three months. I have had many sleepless nights worrying about our clients and staff. I pretty much sleep, eat and breath the ongoing crisis.’
To read the full article by Andy Lippman, visit https://outlooknewspapers.com/southpasadenareview/around-town-local-immigration-institutions-are-in-limbo/article_0493c228-0f51-42c4-a363-d015c2fb71eb.html
A note from Cambria Tortorelli:
In this piece, I’m quoted as saying, “In some cases, we haven’t been able to pay case workers.” We have been challenged to pay our case workers when Federal funds are withheld. To expand on this, I want to report further that IILA is robust enough to weather these events in the short term and has been able to consistently pay caseworkers and provide the requisite client assistance funds to newly arrived refugees. ILA remains extremely grateful for the generous donations that enable it to carry out its mission.
