WHO WE ARE
Experience I can
put to work
for our community.
Hugo Calvillo
Founder, CALIA · Los Angeles
I started CALIA because I had spent years preparing immigration applications and kept seeing the same thing: people who needed help could not move forward because of the cost.
WHY I STARTED CALIA
The cost was
where it stopped.
In immigration application preparation, I learned how much work happens before a packet is ready to file: collecting information, organizing documents, and making sure the paperwork reflects what a person has provided. I also saw how many people could not afford help with that work.
I could not solve every part of that problem. But I could offer my time and preparation experience without charging people for it. That is why I founded CALIA in May 2025.
CALIA is an independent community initiative providing free, non-legal immigration document preparation assistance. This is my way of giving something useful back to our Latino community in Los Angeles: helping with the paperwork while being clear about when someone needs a qualified legal professional.
BEYOND CALIA
Community work
with CHIRLA.
Community Outreach Volunteer
March 2025–present
I also volunteer with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). My role includes weekend community outreach and civic-engagement efforts, supporting community events, and sharing information about immigrant rights and available resources.
A part of that work is connecting people with CHIRLA’s programs, educational resources, and services. If your needs go beyond what CALIA provides, I can help connect you with broader assistance through CHIRLA and point you toward its intake channels.
CALIA is independent of CHIRLA. My volunteer role does not guarantee a referral will be accepted or that services will be available. CHIRLA determines eligibility and availability through its own intake process.
Get in touch with CALIALEGAL DISCLOSURE
Preparation assistance.
Not legal advice.
CALIA is not a law firm, and Hugo Calvillo is not an attorney. We provide non-legal, clerical document preparation assistance. We do not give legal advice, determine eligibility for immigration benefits, select legal strategies, or represent anyone before immigration agencies or courts.
This website provides general information only. Contacting CALIA or receiving preparation assistance does not establish an attorney-client relationship. We cannot guarantee an immigration outcome. Legal questions should be directed to a licensed attorney or a Department of Justice–accredited representative acting through a recognized organization.
CALIA is not affiliated with a government agency and is not an official CHIRLA program. References to CHIRLA do not imply an official partnership or endorsement.
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