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Al Otro Lado Inc

EIN 47-2910078 · San Ysidro, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AL OTRO LADO (AOL) PROVIDES INNOVATIVE CROSS-BORDER LEGAL SERVICES TO REFUGEES, DEPORTEES, AND OTHER MIGRANTSIN TIJUANA, MEXICO AND THROUGHOUT THROUGHOUT THE U.S., WITH A FOCUS ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AOL'S MISSION IS TO UPLIFT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES BY DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANTS AGAINST SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND FIGHTING FOR ALL FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN TORN APART BY UNJUST IMMIGRATION LAWS. AOL HAS REPRESENTED CLIENTS IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS SINCE 2017, WITH A FOCUS ON INDIGENT, HARD-TO REACH, UNDERSERVED, AND EXCEPTIONALLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AOL HAS BEEN A LEADING ORGANIZATION WORKING ON FAMILY REUNIFICATION AND PROVIDES REPRESENTATION AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO SEPARATED FAMILIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND REUNIFIED FAMILIES RESIDING THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AOL HAS ALSO SERVED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES IN BAJA CALIFORNIA AND OTHER US-MEXICO BORDER REGIONS. AOL PROVIDES HOLISTIC, TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES, ENGAGING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND THOUSANDS

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
68
Volunteers
515
Highest pay
$162,616, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 95% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    5 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $2.7 million spent. US BASED ADVOCACYPROVIDES HOLISTIC, FULL-SCALE REPRESENTATION TO PARTICULARLY VULNERABLEIMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, LGBTQA+ INDIVIDUALS, INDIGENOUSMIGRANTS, BLACK MIGRANTS, TORTURE SURVIVORS, SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CLIENTSWITH DISABILITIES/MEDICAL VULNERABILITIES, AND CLIENTS WHOSE CASES PRESENTFAMILY UNITY CONCERNS. WE REPRESENT CLIENTS BEFORE US CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATIONSERVICES, IMMIGRATION COURT, THE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION APPEALS, AND THE NINTH CIRCUIT. WE ALSO ADMINISTER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE-FUNDED LEGAL ORIENTATION PROGRAM AT THE IMPERIAL REGIONAL DETENTION FACILITY IN CALEXICO, CA. OUR GOAL IS TO WORK WITH CLIENTS ON ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR CASESL FROM THEIR INITIAL APPLICATION FOR RELIEF THROUGH NATURALIZATION. IN 2024 WE SECURED SUCCESSFUL CASES OUTCOMES INCLUDING ASYLUM WINS, DACA RENEWALS AND RELEASES FROM ICE PRISON.
  2. $1.6 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
  3. $1.1 million spent. BORDER RIGHTS PROJECT EXPPROVIDES KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS TRAINING AND LEGAL ACCOMPANIMENT TO REFUGEESAT THE US-MEXICO BORDER, EMPOWERING REFUGEES WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THEIRRIGHTS IN THE US ASYLUM SYSTEM AND HOW POLICIES LIRE TITLE 42, CBP ONE, AND FAMILYSEPARATION MAY IMPACT THEIR ABILITY TO SEER ASYLUM. WE SUBMIT REQUESTS FORHUMANITARIAN PAROLE FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE ASYLUM SEEKERS, AND CONDUCT HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS AT US PORTS OF ENTRY. OUR OVERALL GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL REFUGEES, REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, CAN PURSUE THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ATTORNEY ACCOMPANIMENT.
  4. $527,651 spent. FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROJECT EXPWORKS WITH PARENTS WHO WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR CHILDREN DURING ZEROTOLERANCE AND DEPORTED WITHOUT THEM. WE WORK TO BRING PARENTS BACK TO THE UNITEDSTATES TO REUNIFY WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEN PROVIDE ROBUST CASE MANAGEMENT AND LEGAL SUPPORT UNTIL THEY OBTAIN WORK AUTHORIZATION, EMPLOYMENT, STABLEHOUSING, FOOD SECURITY, AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES. THESE REUNIFIED FAMILIES ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES AND GENERALLY RECEIVED SERVICES FROM AL OTRO LADO FOR AT LEAST 1 - 2 YEARS POST-REUNIFICATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.