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COVID-19 Crisis Fund For Immigrants Draws Overwhelming Response
Street vendor Lucas Tax sells inflatable toys and cotton candy outside the California Science Center at Exposition Park in Los Angeles on March 24, 2019. (Agustin Paullier/AFP via Getty Images)
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So many people wanted to apply for a COVID-19 relief fund set up for immigrants in California that phone lines were jammed and a state website handling applications crashed on Monday, the first day of the launch.
Last month, Gov. Newsom announced Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants, which offers $500 for individuals and up to $1,000 dollars for a household. The fund is intended for workers without legal immigration status, who don't have access to unemployment benefits if they lose their jobs, and who can't obtain federal stimulus relief.
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