CA Attorney General Rob Bonta Sends Wishes as CA Senator Tom Umberg and Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken Joined Over 200 Guests
IMMEDIATE RELEASE, December 8, 2025, ANAHEIM, CA – Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) celebrated the Grand Opening of its new Orange County Headquarters and Community Space on Tuesday, December 2 in Anaheim. Over 200 community leaders, partners, and elected officials gathered for the event, marking a significant expansion of AJSOCAL’s footprint and services in the orange county. CA Senator Tom Umberg emphasized the organization’s long-standing leadership in protecting civil rights and ensuring that every Orange County resident, regardless of language, background, or immigration status, has a trusted place to turn for help. Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken spoke to the meaningful role AJSOCAL plays in the city’s social and civic landscape, noting that the new headquarters will deepen collaboration, strengthen community connection, and help ensure that families can access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
“Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Southern California has long been a powerful force for justice, and its work continues to inspire me and so many others. Congratulations on opening your new Orange County office, and thank you for your unwavering leadership in support of the AAPI community,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
“This new headquarters gives us the space to better serve our community and strengthen connections across Orange County,” said Ash Alvandi, Vice President of Orange County, AJSOCAL. “We’re excited to welcome neighbors, partners, and families to a place where they can access essential services, support, and resources.”
With the 3rd-largest Asian population in the US, Orange County is home to 431,955 foreign-born Asian Americans with 70% of them speaking a non-English language at home. The facility will serve as a community hub for AJSOCAL’s ongoing immigration support, housing assistance, domestic violence resources, legal services, and multilingual hotlines.
Also in attendance were Anaheim Councilmember Ryan Balius, Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai, Irvine Councilmember Melinda Liu, Irvine Councilmember William Go, Santa Ana Councilmember Thai Viet Phan, Garden Grove Councilmember Cindy Tran, Cerritos Councilmember Mark Pulido, Cypress Councilmember Kyle Chang, Former Irvine Mayor & Regional Administrator under the Biden Administration Sukhee Kang, and Former Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, Congressman Derek Tran, Congressman Dave Min, Congressman Lou Correa, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Assemblymember Phillip Chen, Assemblymember Tri Ta, and Irvine Mayor Larry Agran.
In Orange County, the Asian American population has grown by 87% from 2000 to 2020, where 1 in every 4 residents is Asian American. For more than 20 years, AJSOCAL in Orange County has served as a trusted resource for the county’s AAPI communities, providing free legal services, outreach, and support to those who need it most. The office engages closely with local residents, offering assistance to low-income and limited-English-speaking individuals, including undocumented immigrants, domestic violence survivors, those facing housing insecurity, and victims of race-based discrimination.
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*Photos from the evening can be found HERE*
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Liza Ameen – lameen@ajsocal.org – 213.241.0258
Liana Liang – lliang@ajsocal.org – 213.977.7500
