by Natasha B. | Dec 7, 2017 | Immigration, News, Workers' Rights
A proud win for clients featured in this article about wage theft in the construction industry. Catholic Migration Services alongside NICE (New Immigrant Community Empowerment Coalition) helped some of the Whisk Remodeling workers file claims with the New York Department of Labor, and also advocated to the New York Attorney General. The contractor pleaded guilty to defrauding it’s workers, and admitted owing them $90,000 in unpaid wages.
Read the full story from The New York Times: New York Officials Battle Wage Theft in Construction Industry
by Natasha B. | Nov 20, 2017 | CMS in the News, Immigration, News
Representatives of the Indian Ministry pose for a photo on the church steps. Photo: Marie Elena Giossi, The Tablet
On Saturday, November 18th the Annual Diocesan Migration Day Mass was held at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Hundreds of the faith gathered in the breaking of the bread to celebrate the rich diversity of Brooklyn and Queens by honoring immigrant and ethnic communities. As in past years, the Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn advocated on behalf of the community, a voice for compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform.
Read the full story in The Tablet: Immigrants Feel Strength in Numbers at Migration Mass
by changer | Sep 13, 2017 | Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Home and More News, Immigration, Legal Services, News
Catholic Migration Services is deeply troubled and saddened by the Trump administration’s lack of commitment to immigrant youth. On September 5th 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration was rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). DACA was a program put in place by President Obama to protect young people from deportation if they had been brought to the U.S. as children, and to enable them to lawfully work. An estimated 800,000 children and young adults across the country applied for, and were granted DACA status. These DACA recipients have been able to finish school and obtain jobs, contribute to our economy and communities, and live without the constant fear of deportation.
For more information on the government’s termination of the DACA program and what it means to current DACA recipients, see our fact sheets in English and Spanish. For advice or assistance with DACA renewal applications, please call us at (718) 236-3000 (Brooklyn) or (347) 472-3500 (Queens).
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. | 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 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
