by changer | Aug 7, 2017 | News, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
TPS is a temporary legal status granted to Haitian nationals. Temporary Protected Status also offers Haitian nationals the opportunity to apply for work authorization, which permits them to work legally in the United States.
TPS must be renewed every 18 months. Haitian nationals must renew their TPS NO LATER than July 24, 2017. Upon renewal, TPS will be extended until July 22, 2018.
This renewal period is open ONLY to Haitian nationals who currently have TPS. With rare exceptions, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is NOT accepting new TPS registrations.
The basic eligibility requirements to renew Haitian TPS are:
– Applicant must be a Haitian national
– Applicant must have entered the U.S. prior to January 12, 2011
– Applicant must have resided in the U.S. continuously before or since January 12, 2011
– Applicant must have been approved for TPS previously (either in 2010, and timely re-registered in 2011 OR in 2011)
– Male applicants 18 years or older must be registered with Selective Service
The USCIS fees for Haitian TPS renewal are:
– $465, for applicant 14 years or older applying for employment authorization
– $85, for applicant 14 years or older not applying for employment authorization
– $380, for applicant under 14 years applying for employment authorization
– $0, for applicant under 14 years not applying for employment authorization
Fee waivers are available under certain circumstances.
Catholic Migration Services provides legal representation before USCIS to all Haitian TPS applicants we serve.
If you would like more information, or if you are a Haitian national and need to re-register your TPS, please call our Brooklyn office at 718-236-3000 or our Queens office at 347-472-3500 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Click here for information about Haitian TPS in Kreyòl Ayisyen.
Article written by Deacon Paul Dorsinville, Health Education Coordinator and Kimberley Kearns, Public Ally/Capacity Building Specialist
Special thanks to the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Law Unit for information.
by Natasha B. | Jun 22, 2017 | CMS in the News, News, Tenant Advocacy
An undocumented immigrant residing in an apartment complex on Parsons Boulevard in Queens, NY seeks assistance from Catholic Migration and Queens Legal Services after realty company seeks to evict undocumented tenants. The landlord is accused of using scare tactics to encourage neighbors to report suspicious activity to the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Unit. Posting signs accompanied by tip line numbers, tenants in the largely immigrant community now live in fear. Carlos Ortiz, tenant organizer with Catholic Migration Services shares this unscrupulous approach with NY 1 reporter Ruschell Boone.
Read the full story and watch the interview with NY 1: Queens Landlord Accused of Trying to Scare Undocumented Immigrants into Moving Away
by Natasha B. | May 25, 2017 | Immigration, News
In an effort to expand how the Church accompanies people, the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development recently launched a new website, migrants-refugees.va “to ensure that those forced to flee are not left behind.” Accessible in 5 languages, the Vatican office is personally directed by Pope Francis and is a direct response to the Holy Father’s concern for the displaced and marginalized across the globe.
Photo Credit: CRS
During the Sixth International Forum on Migration and Peace at the Vatican, February 21 to 22, His Holiness shared four “verbs” when addressing migrants and refugees among us. He challenged leaders and citizens of the world to welcome, protect, promote and integrate our fellow brothers and sisters. In doing so, we are called to discover the “sacred value of hospitality.”
At Catholic Migration Services, our mission is to “welcome the stranger in our midst”, by being committed to empowering underserved immigrant communities in Brooklyn and Queens regardless of religion, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status. We are proud to connect our community to the Vatican’s newest website as a way to expand our services, education, and advocacy among the many people we assist.
The Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development was originally announced by Pope Francis on August 31, 2016 and began operation January 1st of this year. According to Radio Vaticana, the new Dicastery was created “to better serve the needs of the most vulnerable, including migrants and refugees, in yet another expression of his strong concern for the protection of people on the move.”
Read the full address from the Vatican: His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants in the International Forum on “Migration and Peace”
by Natasha B. | May 24, 2017 | Legal Services, News
Congratulations to the 2017 graduates of Brooklyn Law School and our very own, Very Rev. Patrick J. Keating, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Migration Services. Fr. Keating delivered the opening invocation and received his Juris Doctorate alongside 399 students during the 116th commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 18th.
Political anchor at NY1 News and a 2005 graduate, Errol Louis, delivered the commencement speech and received an honorary degree. According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the common theme that carried across everyone’s speech was the responsibility toward community. In the commencement speech, Louis reminded the graduates not to forget their “invisible clients.”
“Remember that you have clients beyond the ones who are paying you,” Louis said. “Justice is your client. Fairness is your client. Honesty and integrity and service are your clients, and they deserve your best effort.”
Read the full story from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Errol Luis delivers commencement speech at Brooklyn Law School graduation
by Natasha B. | May 22, 2017 | Immigration, Legal Services, News, Tenant Advocacy
Yolanda Coca, que en paz descanse, sirvió a sus hermanos con compasión, esperanza y fuerza en una época en que los marginados necesitaban una voz que pudiera luchar por ellos. Fue una activista y líder comunitaria que dedicó su vida al servicio de sus vecinos en Sunset Park, Ridgewood y Bushwick. Muchos de ellos se enfrentaron con la desigualdad en comunidades donde predominaban las familias inmigrantes y de bajos ingresos.
Su trabajo y colaboración con el Centro Scalabrini para familias migrantes y Servicios Católicos de Migración ayudó a expandir los servicios y recursos disponibles a la comunidad.
Lea la historia completa en Nuestra Voz: El legado de Yolanda Coca
by Natasha B. | May 10, 2017 | Immigration, Legal Services, News, Workers' Rights
Foundation Board member Martin Minkowitz, center, presents a grant to David Colodny, Director of Legal Services of Catholic Migration Services, left, and Father Patrick Keating, CEO of Catholic Migration Services. Photo: Nancy Pardo
From The New York Bar Foundation: The New York Bar Foundation recently presented a grant of $2,500 to Catholic Migration Services, Brooklyn. The grant will be used to support their Immigrant Workers’ Rights Program.
“Catholic Migration Services greatly appreciates the New York Bar Foundation’s critical support of our Immigrant Workers’ Rights Program,” states Father Patrick Keating. “The Foundation’s grant will support efforts to help low-wage workers who have fallen victim to wage theft, and to help educate hundreds of other workers about their rights in the workplace, such as their right to receive the minimum wage and overtime, and to work in safe conditions.”
In early 2017, The New York Bar Foundation allocated more than $640,000 in grants to programs across New York State. These grants assist in:
- Increasing public understanding of the law
- Improving the justice system and the law
- Facilitating the delivery of legal services
- Enhancing professional competence and ethics
The New York Bar Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the New York State Bar Association. To learn more about The Foundation and how you can support its charitable programs, go to www.tnybf.org, phone 518-487-5651 or email nybarfoundation@tnybf.org.
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Download this press release as a PDF
by Natasha B. | Apr 21, 2017 | Events, fundraising, Immigration, Legal Services, News, Tenant Advocacy, Workers' Rights
Catholic Migration Services is honored to host our annual Sunset Reception on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at the Pierrepont House in Brooklyn Heights, NY. As is customary, our attorney’s will share information about each of our program areas, covering immigration, tenant advocacy and workers’ rights.
The event brings together legal professionals seeking to expand their work in the non-profit industry. Be sure to save your spot and fill out the form below.
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by Natasha B. | Apr 20, 2017 | Immigration, Legal Services, Press Releases and Statements
Presione aquí para la versión en Español
Peze la pou tradui nan Kreyol Ayisyen
On February 17, 2017 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released two memos that detailed major changes to the current interior and border enforcement policies. There is still a lot that is unclear at this time and we expect more changes, but wanted to highlight the following priorities and what you can do to be prepared.
The President’s Priorities for Removing Immigrants Present in the United States:
In the memos, DHS listed the following categories of immigrants within the country, including some who currently have a lawful status, as priority for removal:
- Persons with any criminal conviction(s);
- Persons with pending criminal charges;
- Persons who have “committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense”;
- Persons believed by immigration officers to pose a threat to public safety or national security;
- Persons who have a final order of removal;
- Persons who have engaged in fraud/ misrepresentation in applications to government, or who have “abused” public benefits (this could include those who have used a fake Social Security Number); and
- Those who are undocumented
We are not clear as to who would fall into some of these categories and expect to receive more information over the next couple of months. While this list of priorities does cast a wide net, please keep in mind that the current infrastructure may not allow the administration to significantly increase the rate of arrest/deportation. Additionally, most people still have a right to have their case heard in front of an Immigration Judge.
We are doing our best to keep people informed of policy changes and have been conducting Know Your Rights trainings in various churches and community centers in Brooklyn and Queens.
If you have any questions or concern, please call Catholic Migration Services at (718) 236-3000 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To speak to our “Immigration Attorney on Call” dial extension 203 between 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. All care encouraged to visit our website for future updates, training sessions and workshops at www.catholicmigration.org.
Download this letter as a PDF
by Natasha B. | Apr 20, 2017 | CMS in the News, Immigration, Legal Services, News, Workers' Rights
Trabajadores de Tom Cat Bakery en protesta contra acciones anti-inmigrantes. Foto: Getty Images por medio de El Diario NY
Viernes el 21 de abril, trabajadores de Tom Cat Bakery, una de las panaderías más conocidas en la cuidad organizaron #DayWithoutBread o #UnDíaSinPan junto con Brandworkers, la organización laboral que les une. Era el deseo de los trabajadores que en la cuidad no comer pan como “un gesto de solidaridad y protesta a la política anti-inmigrante”. Los trabajadores están representados por abogados con Servicios Católicos de Migración y el Urban Justice Center-Community Development Project.
Lea la historia completa en El Diario NY: Viernes, un día sin pan para apoyar a quienes ya no lo harán
by Natasha B. | Mar 31, 2017 | CMS in the News, Legal Services, News, Tenant Advocacy
A tenant resource fair was held in Bushwick on Tuesday, March 28th hosted by the Department of Housing, Preservation and Development along with Councilmembers Antonio Reynoso and Rafael Espinal. The event aimed at informing tenants and providing legal tools and associations to help tenants fight back against landlords and scrupulous tactics. Managing attorney for the housing program with Catholic Migration Services, Andrew Lehrer was among the organizations present.
Read the full story from City Limits: Tools for Tenants Ahead of Bushwick Rezoning
