by changer | Mar 4, 2015 | News, Workers' Rights
On Friday, February 27, 2015, the New York City Council’s Committee on Immigration held a hearing on labor trafficking in the domestic worker industry. Alice Davis, staff attorney in the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Program, testified on the need for adequate training the law enforcement agencies that are most likely to encounter victims of trafficking, to create uniform policies for interviewing victims, and clarifying the role of advocates during investigations.
A recent study by Hoftstra University found that there are over 11,000 victims of human trafficking in New York alone. Yet, since 2007, only 37 victims have been confirmed by New York law enforcement agencies to receive emergency assistance and other benefits. Based on this discrepancy, Council Member Menchaca, Chair of the Committee on Immigration, stated that, “It is clear that more needs to be done to improve the lives of labor trafficking victims.”
The Immigrant Workers’ Rights Program assists victims of labor trafficking by representing them in civil litigation for wage violations and other claims arising out of their employment, as well as assisting them in applications for T visas.
For more information on the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Program please click here.
by changer | Mar 1, 2015 | Legal Services
If you would like to attend the Queens town hall meeting on the right to counsel in eviction proceedings, please fill out the form below.
by changer | Feb 25, 2015 | Legal Services
Last Friday February 20th, The National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) and Univision 41 brought together a panel of attorneys and immigration experts to address over 300 community members at the Casita Maria Cultural Center in the Bronx. The panel focused on updates surrounding the executive action programs announced by President Obama in November of last year.
The panel spoke to inform and update community members of all the legal services available to them and their families interested in applying for an immigration status. President Obama’s proposed plan to expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and introduce Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) would provide work authorization to and safeguard millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. The more informed the community is of available services from licensed attorneys, the less likely they will be to fall victim to “notarios” or people not qualified to provide immigration legal services.
CMS and other organizations provided information on their services and hotlines to provide further information on the President’s executive action programs. The overwhelming interest further demonstrated the need for a more comprehensive solution to the existing immigration system and for the growing need for trustworthy legal service providers.
CMS Naturalization Coordinator Zach Shultz with Univision Anchor Jorge Viera.
by changer | Feb 23, 2015 | Immigration
A federal court in Texas has issued a preliminary injunction preventing USCIS from accepting requests for the expansion of DACA. Therefore, the program is on hold for now. We believe that this is just a temporary setback and we are optimistic that the program will go into effect in the near future. Therefore we encourage everyone who qualifies to continue to prepare and gather the documents they need and the fees for the application. This ruling does not affect the DACA program that is currently in effect from 2012 and those who are eligible should continue to apply and/or renew their status. Please check back for updates.
A dedicated hotline has been established at CMS to provide up to date information on this topic. All interested individuals are encouraged to call the hotline at 347-979-9360.
For more information about CMS, please contact our Brooklyn office at 718-236-3000 or the Queens office at 347-472-3500. You can also visit Catholic Migration Services.
by changer | Feb 16, 2015 | Immigration
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will honor Presidents Day by welcoming approximately 5,000 new U.S. citizens during nearly 40 Presidents Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country Feb. 13-22.
“Congratulations to the nearly 5,000 immigrants who will become U.S. citizens around Presidents Day,” said USCIS Director León Rodríguez. “Citizenship is a critical component of immigrant integration. It provides immigrants with an equal footing, and fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion that strengthens the bonds of shared ownership in society. As we celebrate Presidents Day, I encourage anyone who is eligible for naturalization to consider the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of citizenship.”
USCIS Deputy Director Lori Scialabba will provide congratulatory remarks to 200 people at a naturalization ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on Feb. 17. Rodríguez will administer the Oath of Allegiance to 50 people and deliver keynote remarks atGeorge Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia on Feb. 22.
USCIS encourages new citizens and their families and friends to share their experiences from the ceremonies through Twitter and other social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit uscis.gov.
