The scene Jan. 8 in an Altadena neighborhood as firefighters fight the Eaton Fire.
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Nick Ut
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Southern California is on fire right now, with tens of thousands of people displaced. If you want to help, giving money to trusted organizations may be more effective than donating items or assisting people directly.
Why is cash better? Managing donations of objects like clothes, blankets and food can be difficult. For hands-on volunteering, organizations like the Red Cross say it takes a bit of time to get set up. They accept applications here.
Where can I donate? Public officials in L.A. are encouraging people who want to help to donate to specific, well-vetted organizations and funds. These include:
If you'd rather donate to a specific individual or family, GoFundMe has set up a dedicated page where you can donate to SoCal fire victims, first responders and others through their separate fundraising accounts.
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the fires in Los Angeles. If you're watching from afar and want to help, sending money to a trusted relief organization may be more effective than donating items or heading to the front lines to see how you can lend hand.
If you are wondering where to start, Los Angeles County has set up an online portal with links to local funds that have been set up to help first responders and fire victims with housing, employment, and recovery.
Unsolicited donations of goods — such as clothing, or canned food — can cause more trouble for aid organizations already in place. " I've seen pallets of clothing just left outside in a parking lot for months after some disasters, because there's no place to put it, people don't have resources to sort it," said Drew Hanna, who has led relief efforts after wildfires in California, Hawaii and elsewhere for the nonprofit Team Rubicon.
In fact, several aid groups, including the local YMCA, have already asked people to stop bringing clothes to its donation centers. "The one thing we really do not need is clothing," Christina Bragg, a YMCA spokesperson told LAist.
Just a few days after the Eaton Fire devastated Altadena and parts of Pasadena, the city of Pasadena, in a post on X, also wrote that it was "incredibly grateful for the donations of food and other items. However, at this time, we are overwhelmed with the amount and we are no longer accepting additional donations."
At news conference on Sunday, L.A. Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said "there are donations of food, water supplies, literally spilling over and out into our local fire stations."
The community support is heartwarming.
But no one wants supplies — and the hard-earned money people spent to purchase them — to go to waste.
Many organizations say donating money and/or signing up to be a trained volunteer (for the current and future disasters) is the best way to help.
L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone has been encouraging people who want to help to visit the website of the Emergency Network Los Angeles. For volunteer opportunities, L.A. Works has information about how to help with housing, child care, food and specific needs from local nonprofits.
One quick way to know what an agency does or doesn't need is to check their website and social media channels. Organizations will often broadcast needs there first. You can also try calling, but understand some agencies may not have the bandwidth to answer phones.
Why donations can get overwhelming
Families who lost their homes in the fires have tremendous needs. But it may be difficult for them to get to the places where donations are being distributed. They also likely have no place right now to store many of the things they'll need to rebuild their lives.
For volunteer coordinators, trying to manage donated objects like clothes, blankets and food can be difficult.
"That is countless hours of work by volunteer agencies, by survivors themselves, to navigate the piles and piles of donated clothing," Hanna from Team Rubicon said.
A recent post on the group's website tells the story of useless donations given by well-meaning people in the wake of disasters, including thousands of winter coats donated to Houston residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey in the hot, sticky summer of 2017.
"Coats weren’t what the city’s residents needed," the article reads. "Thousands of donors’ well-intended impact became a logistical nightmare for community organizations and relief volunteers who could have been focused instead on the emergent needs of a ravaged city."
Volunteering takes time
If you'd like to get your hands dirty and help people one-on-one, it's not always as easy as just showing up. Local community groups may host events and drives, but big organizations like the Red Cross say it takes a bit of time before you can become a volunteer.
Don't be too disappointed that you can't volunteer right away, though, because many services are needed well after the flames are extinguished. For example, volunteers might work with people to connect them with the right organizations and providers to help them get back on their feet.
How can I help, right now
That said, here are a few options if you want to get involved right now:
Check out the list of volunteer opportunities posted at L.A. Works
Join LAIT911's disaster response and recovery team, where the work includes collecting donations and assisting with delivery
Foster a dog or cat from a family displaced by the fires. Email the Pasadena Humane Society or stop by their office for more info
Contact your local community group or religious organization to find out how they're trying to help
Where to donate money, and some specific items
Public officials in L.A. are encouraging people who want to help to donate to specific, well-vetted organizations and funds. These include:
If you'd rather donate to a specific individual or family, GoFundMe has set up a dedicated page where you can donate to SoCal fire victims, first responders and others through their separate fundraising accounts.
If you have more stuff than cash, the YMCA is accepting donations of essential items for families affected the fires, minus clothing. Check out the YMCA's social media for updated needs.
The Pasadena Humane Society is seeking monetary donations to feed and care for the more than 300 pets they've taken in since the Eaton Fire broke out.
Donation drops through the city
City Council members have announced locations for donations, asking that people do not drop off at fire stations, shelters or other locations:
Councilmember Traci Park
Council District 11 Office Location: 7166 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Items requested:
Individually-wrapped items
Non-perishable goods
Personal hygiene products
Canned goods
Baby food
Dog food
Water and Gatorade
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez
North Valley Caring Services Food Pantry Location: 15453 Rayen St., North Hills Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 2 p.m. on Friday
Items requested:
Non perishable foods
Blankets
Bottled Water
Diaper and wipes
Microwaves
Fresh produce — Please only drop off on Thursdays
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson
It’s Bigger Than Us Location: 4308 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday
Volunteers are needed by Canine Rescue Club to offer temporary foster care for dogs displaced by the fires. You can apply to temporarily house an affected dog by filling out an online form.
The LA Regional Food Bank is also accepting food donations and volunteers. These locations are open from 8 .a.m to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday:
Vernon: 1734 East 41st St., Los Angeles
Industry: 2300 Pellissier Place, Industry
Help people get connected to food and supplies via No Res Gourmet. There are three way to volunteer: help cook, package and distribute meals. Donate funds with 100% of donations going directly to fire relief. Donations aretax-deductible. Drop-off supplies — Bring essential food, prep items, and care supplies to our drop-off location. View more details and lists of items needed.
Los Angeles Animal Services has issued an urgent plea for fosters and adopters to take pets from their crowded shelters. This will open space in shelters for displaced animals and pets. Visit their foster page to sign up.
Volunteers are urgently needed by OBKLA (Our Big Kitchen LA) while they prepare hot meals for those in need and for firefighters and emergency personnel. Contact info@obkla.org to volunteer.
Mercy Chefs is also looking for volunteers and donations for its hot meal service to impacted residents and first responders.
Sign up to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity's wildfire relief efforts. As specific opportunities arise, you will be notified.
Local schools, YMCAs and community centers have partnered with the American Red Cross to collect donations for those affected by the wildfires. They need help transporting and distributing goods. Many YMCA's are also offering emergency child care.
Note: This story was first published in October 2019 and updated to include information relevant to victims and evacuees from the Palisades, Eaton and other fires burning in SoCal in January 2025. Sarah Steinman contributed to this report.
Do you have a question about the wildfires or fire recovery?
Check out LAist.com/FireFAQs to see if your question has already been answered. If not, submit your questions here, and we’ll do our best to get you an answer.
Yusra Farzan
has covered the Rancho Palos Verdes landslide since 2023.
Published April 20, 2026 5:00 AM
Landslide damage resulting in uneven pavement along Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes on April 4, 2026.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Topline:
Roughly three years after above average rainfall fueled a devastating landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes, the landscape has become almost unrecognizable. Homes, ripped apart by the land movement, have been wiped away, creating swaths of unusable open space. Trying to slow the landslide has pushed the city to the financial brink. But also caught in the landslide’s crosshairs is a beloved seaside network of trails that continues to be pulled apart and will never be the same.
How we got here: The area was once green rolling hills offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Now, much of the land is riddled with 20-foot chasms, some of which span 12 feet. For decades, land movement was minimal. But with above average rainfall in 2022 and 2023 it rapidly accelerated — up to 1 foot per week in some places. Land movement has since slowed to about 1.6 inches a week, thanks in part to wells the city installed that suck water out of the ground, but damage to the around 16 miles of trails remains and will likely never be abated.
The effects on nature: The California gnatchater, a small songbird that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls “threatened” and the endangered Palos Verdes blue butterfly rely on certain host plants within the preserve. Cris Sarabia, conservation director for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, said the species can also benefit from less human activity.
Roughly three years after above-average rainfall fueled a devastating landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes, the landscape has become almost unrecognizable. Homes, ripped apart by the land movement, have been wiped away, creating swaths of unusable open space. Trying to slow the landslide has pushed the city to the financial brink.
But also caught in the landslide’s crosshairs is a beloved seaside network of trails that continues to be pulled apart and will never be the same.
The area was once green rolling hills offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Now, much of the land is riddled with 20-foot chasms, some of which span 12 feet.
For decades, land movement was minimal. But above-average rainfall in 2022 and 2023 rapidly accelerated — up to 1 foot per week in some places — prompting Southern California Edison and SoCalGas to shut off utilities for hundreds of residents.
Landslide damage has closed dozens of trails in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes on April 4.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Landslide damage has closed dozens of trails in the Portuguese Bend community area of Rancho Palos Verdes on April 4.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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Land movement has since slowed to about 1.6 inches a week, thanks in part to wells the city installed that suck water out of the ground, but damage to the around 16 miles of trails remains and will likely never be abated.
"We don't traverse those areas on a regular basis. We occasionally use drones to look at the damage,” said Ara Mihranian, Rancho Palos Verdes’ city manager. “You can't get across certain trails, so if we even went down into a certain area, we wouldn't be able to continue because of the open fissures in the ground.”
William Lavoie of the Palos Verdes South Bay group of the Sierra Club has hiked trails in the 1,500 acre-Palos Verdes Nature Reserve once a week for about 25 years. Before the city closed off the area, he said he saw a telephone pole “ tipping at about a 30-degree angle.”
Landslides resulted in a home being severely damaged in Rancho Palos Verdes on April 4.
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Brian Feinzimer
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LAist
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“ I understand why they closed the trails because there were some pretty good-sized fissures,” he said. “It would be very sad if somebody broke a leg or twisted an ankle or broke an ankle.”
The effects on nature
But the destruction hasn’t been a total loss.
The California gnatcatcher, a small songbird that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls “threatened” and the endangered Palos Verdes blue butterfly rely on certain host plants within the preserve.
“ The habitat that supports the wildlife has been fragmented, has been damaged with fissures opening up in the ground, splitting apart. Coastal sage scrub has actually been sucked in by the fissures,” Mihranian said. “That impacts the corridors and the wildlife patterns that you see out in the preserve.”
But Cris Sarabia, conservation director for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, said the species can also benefit from less human activity.
“ Both of those endangered species have wings so they could essentially fly,” he said. “So the fissures on the trails or the cracks in the ground don't necessarily cause big impacts to them because they're able to move around.”
Sarabia said his organization is also tracking the cactus wren bird that resides in a cactus found within the landslide area.
“ We have been working closely with the different entities doing the [mitigation] work to avoid as much habitat as possible, but unfortunately some of these areas overlap,” he said.
Meanwhile, the conservancy is trying to salvage the cactus and preparing for restoration of the sites, collecting native seeds and growing new plants.
But the true extent of the damage and the effects to wildlife are unclear, Mihranian said, because city officials haven’t been able to go in to do a full assessment — the area is too unsafe.
”It's going to be a herculean effort and a very costly one as well,” Mihranian said of repairing the damage.
A colossal financial drain
Listen
0:43
How Rancho Palos Verdes’ beloved hiking trails have been forever altered by landslide
When the current fiscal year ends in June, Rancho Palos Verdes will have spent close $65 million on efforts related to the landslide since October 2022. For context, the city’s annual operating budget is around $40 million.
“ The city has taken a huge hit on this emergency response,” Mihranian said.
Rancho Palos Verdes has appealed to state and federal officials for assistance, but with little to no success.
Adding salt to the wounds, the city has also lost out on revenue from parking fees for the preserve. Revenue generated at the Abalone Cove Park lot has dropped from $150,000 each year, to just $11,000, according to the city. Revenue from parking near Del Cerro Park also decreased from around $32,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 to just $4,000.
Not to mention all the homes that have been lost, uprooting the lives of residents who haven’t been able to resell, instead relying on a government-backed buy back program.
Alternative trail routes
Lavoie, the Sierra Club member, said despite the trail closures, the vast open space in the Palos Verdes Peninsula means there are plenty of alternatives.
Here are some of his favorites:
Lavoie affectionately calls the trail behind Highridge Park “the maze.” It’s an easy one-hour walk and you get to share the trail with horses.
Malaga Cove: Pass Neptune fountain, the library and post office to continue along a grassy hill shaded by eucalyptus trees. Use the utility pathway to reach La Venta Inn.
The Via Buena stairs in Lunada Bay.
There are lots of great trails that start at Ernie Howlett Park.
Anyone can join the Palos Verdes South Bay group of the Sierra Club on their hikes in the peninsula. Check their calendar for meeting spots and times.
Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment reporter and brings you the top news you need for the day.
Published April 20, 2026 5:00 AM
Tickets to the FIFA Fan Festival at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum go on sale this week.
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David McNew
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Tickets to the FIFA Fan Festival will go on sale next week for eager soccer fans who want to celebrate the World Cup at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.
What’s the Fan Festival? The festival is a four-day event featuring live music and other entertainment. Soccer fans will also be able to watch live matches.
Read on … for what you need to know before the sale goes live.
Soccer fans who want to celebrate the World Cup at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum will be able to purchase tickets to the FIFA Fan Festival on April 22.
The four-day celebration begins the same day as the tournament, June 11, and goes through June 14. It’ll include live music, match broadcasts and other entertainment, according to FIFA.
Los Angeles is hosting eight tournament matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood this summer, including the match between the U.S. and Paraguay on June 12.
What you need to know
General admission tickets are $10, and reserved club and loge seats are $30. Children younger than 12 years old are free.
If event days are not sold out, fans can also purchase tickets at the Coliseum’s box office at Gate 29.
The venue does enforce strict bag rules. Any bags must be clear, and exceptions can be made for special circumstances, like medical or infant care items.
What games will be broadcast?
Fans can catch some World Cup matches on big screens. Here’s the schedule:
June 11 Mexico vs. South Africa, noon
June 12 Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, noon U.S.A. vs Paraguay, 6 p.m.
June 13 Brazil vs Morocco, 3 p.m. Haiti vs Scotland, 6 p.m.
June 14 Germany vs Curacao, 10 a.m. Netherlands vs Japan, 1 p.m.
How do I get to the Coliseum?
There’s more than one way to get to the venue. For public transit, the Metro E Line makes two stops near the Coliseum — Expo Park/USC and Expo/Vermont.
There will also be a designated area for rideshare drop-offs and pickups at Vermont Avenue between Exposition Boulevard and Downey Way.
Additional parking will also be available just a short walk from the venue on the USC campus. You can pre-book parking spaces starting at $55, here.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
Beyonce's 'Lemonade' turns 10 this year, with a celebration happening at El Cid.
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Duane Prokop
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Getty Images
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In this edition:
LACMA opens the David Geffen Galleries, a no-waste Earth Day with local chefs, Reefer Madness tokes up on 4/20 and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
Spend Earth Day revisiting the environmentally conscious kids’ classic FernGully. Comedians like Cameron Esposito, Eric Bauza, Christa B. Allen and many more star in this live reading at Dynasty Typewriter. A donation will be made to the World Wildlife Fund.
You thought I’d forget that today is 4/20? Celebrate with a live performance of the musical Reefer Madness, based on the 1936 anti-marijuana propaganda film, on through May 10 at the Wisteria Theater in North Hollywood. Those crazy kids.
Join PBS SoCal for this special Independent Lens pop-up screening of the upcoming documentary, The Librarians. The film follows a Texas battle over restrictions on race and LGBTQIA+ materials, and tells the story of the librarians on the front lines. As lawmakers around the country push boundaries of censorship, the film looks at “the broader implications on these restrictions for education and public life.”
The new David Geffen Galleries at LACMA opened to members this week, and I was thrilled to get a sneak peek at the space. The Brutalist spaceship-like arm that reaches across Wilshire Boulevard is organized loosely (even the accompanying guidebook is titled “Wander”), bringing decorative arts, design and photography onto the same plane as traditional painting and sculpture.
I particularly liked the American West rooms and the design-focused areas that somehow make even a full-sized car look small. Outside is just as impressive, with a Rodin sculpture garden and old friends like Alexander Calder’s "Three Quintains (Hello Girls)" — first commissioned for the museum in 1965 — getting a new home and water feature. There are lots of new spots to explore during the next Jazz at LACMA, for sure.
Licorice Pizza has your music picks, including Monday’s lineup of Biffy Clyro at the Belasco, Maya Hawke at Sid The Cat Auditorium, Langhorne Slim at the Troubadour, Young the Giant at the Grammy Museum and David Lee Roth runnin’ with the devil at House of Blues Anaheim. On Tuesday, Throwing Muses plays the Teragram, Failure plays Zebulon, Cheap Trick transforms Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium into Budokan and the UK’s Flyte plays their first of two nights at the LodgeRoom.
Wednesday, Daptone Records soul trio Thee Sacred Souls is at the Greek Theatre (they’ll play there Thursday as well). Also Thursday, She Wants Revenge is at the Wiltern, Ari Lennox is at YouTube Theater, fabulous showman Bright Light Bright Light plays the Mint and Britain’s Art Brut performs their entire album Bang Bang Rock & Roll at the LodgeRoom.
Wednesday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. Emerson College Los Angeles 5960 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy PBS SoCal
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Join PBS SoCal for this special Indie Lens pop-up screening of the upcoming documentary, The Librarians. The film follows a Texas battle over restrictions on race and LGBTQ+ materials and tells the story of the librarians on the front lines. As lawmakers around the country push boundaries of censorship, the film looks at “the broader implications on these restrictions for education and public life.”
Mill at Little City Farm: No-waste dinners
Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23 Little City Farm 1148 S. Victoria Ave., Koreatown COST: $125; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Mona Creative
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Big-name local chefs like Quarter Sheets’ Aaron Lindell and Wildair’s Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra try their hand at no-waste cooking at Little City Farm for Earth Week in collaboration with home composting company, Mill. On Wednesday, (Earth Day): Mike Fadem of James Beard semifinalist pizza restaurant Ops will collaborate with Lindell to create no-waste pizza recipes. Then, on Thursday, Stone and Valtierra team up with 2026 James Beard Emerging Chef finalist Fátima Juárez of Komal to showcase Mexican heritage-inspired dishes. All proceeds benefit LA Compost.
OC Made
Through Saturday, August 1 Fullerton Museum Center 301. N Pomona Ave., Fullerton COST: $10; MORE INFO
Head to the Fullerton Museum Center for a new biennial juried exhibition, OC Made. It’s the first show of its kind dedicated to artists living and working in Orange County. This year’s crop features 108 artists and more than 130 pieces spanning painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media. Among the winners are Ramón Vargas for his piece "Wolf," plus curators’ choice nominees Jacquelin Nagel for "Begonia Maculata" and Brooke Hunter for "Center Stage." And keep an eye out for other events at the museum, like the Downtown Fullerton Art Walk on May 1.
Genesis Talks: Michael Govan and Peter Zumthor
Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. LACMA 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile COST: $10; MORE INFO
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Brigitte Lacombe
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Finn Partners
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This event is currently sold out, but keep an eye out for a last-minute chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the design and building of LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries with LACMA CEO Michael Govan and Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.
Reefer Madness: The Musical
Through Sunday, May 10 Wisteria Theater 7061 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood COST: FROM $58; MORE INFO
You thought I’d forget that today is 4/20? Celebrate with a viewing of the musical Reefer Madness, based on the 1936 anti-marijuana propaganda film, on through May 10 at the Wisteria Theater in North Hollywood. Those crazy kids.
Lemonade 10-Year Anniversary Party
Thursday, April 23 El Cid 4212 Sunset Blvd., Silverlake COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' turns 10 years old.
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Frederick M. Brown
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Getty Images
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Has it really been 10 years since Beyoncé released Lemonade? El Cid says so, so it must be true. Dance off your fears about getting old at this anniversary album party.
Earth Day with FernGully
Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. Dynasty Typewriter 2511 Wilshire Blvd., MacArthur Park COST: $20; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Dynasty Typewriter
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Spend Earth Day revisiting the environmentally conscious 1992 kids’ classic FernGully (soon to also be a live-action film directed by Marielle Heller — the nostalgia is real). Comedians like Cameron Esposito, Eric Bauza, Christa B. Allen and many more star in this live reading at Dynasty Typewriter. A donation will be made to the World Wildlife Fund.
Living Legends of Drag
Wednesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Lil Miss Hot Mess
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Eventbrite
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Join drag kings and queens, including El Daña (the Guinness World Records' certified oldest performing drag king), Mo B. Dick (Drag King History), "Mother" Karina Samala (Imperial Court of Los Angeles and Hollywood), Jazzmun (Peanuts) and Manny Oakley (LA Drag Archive) for a panel — and, of course, a performance — about drag history and culture. Hosted by Lil Miss Hot Mess, the event is free and part of the National Humanities Center’s Being Human Festival, which runs through May 3.
A woman walks past a banner showing missiles being launched, in northern Tehran, Iran, on Friday.
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Vahid Salemi
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AP
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Topline:
A woman was arrested at LAX on Saturday night for allegedly trafficking arms on behalf of the Iranian government, according to authorities.
Why now: Shamim Mafi of Woodland Hills is charged with helping the regime sell drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan.
The backstory: Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, made the arrest announcement Sunday morning on social media.
A woman was arrested for allegedly trafficking arms on behalf of the Iranian government at LAX on Saturday night, according to authorities.
Shamim Mafi of Woodland Hills is charged with helping the regime sell drones, bombs and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan.
Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, made the arrest announcement Sunday morning on social media.
The 44-year-old Mafi is expected to appear in court for a bond hearing Monday afternoon in downtown L.A.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the Department of Justice and obtained by LAist, Mafi allegedly brokered weapons deals on behalf of Iran through Atlas International, a business in Oman she co-owns, including facilitating a contract valued at more than €60 million (or some US $70 million) for the sale of Iranian-made armed drones to Sudan.
She is also being accused of brokering the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses, AK-47 machine guns and other weapons to the Sudanese Ministry of Defense.
Mafi faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
Essayli said Mafi is an Iranian national who became a permanent resident of the U.S. in 2016.
