Orange County has appointed Jose A. Serrano as the director of the newly established Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), a division dedicated to the support of immigrant and refugee communities in the region. Officially announced on April 9, the Office was created by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to help these populations achieve stability and self-sufficiency while complying with state and federal law requirements.
With a start date of April 5, Serrano is no stranger to this field, having served for over a decade in various roles such as at World Relief Southern California and the State of California's Refugee Programs Bureau. In addition to his positions as chair of the Arab American Civic Council and leader of the Good Neighbor Team Task Force, he has been instrumental in the resettlement of over 800 refugees in Southern California. "Given his experience, we know that Jose will successfully work with our community partners to create a supportive environment for immigrants and refugees in Orange County," Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee said, according to the Orange County Government.
Supervisor Andrew Do, a proponent of the Office's creation, emphasized the importance of centralizing county services to aid immigrants and refugees in their quest for stability and prosperity within the community. "As an immigrant myself, I support centralizing county services that help immigrants and refugees gain stability, become self-sufficient, and financially prosper in our community," Do told the County press.
The urgency for this new office is underscored by Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento's observation that nearly one out of three Orange County residents are immigrants. "I look forward to working with him closely as he connects our most vulnerable residents with services," Sarmiento said, expressing his anticipation for the beneficial impact Serrano is expected to make, as per the Orange County Government. Serrano holds degrees in political science and Chicana/o studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is fully accredited to represent individuals in immigration court.
