Under the backdrop of the federal government toughening its immigration enforcement efforts, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) partnered with the New Americans Office at the New York State Department of State (ONA) and the Catholic Charities Community Services Center (CCCS) to host a promotion event for the immigration legal aid hotline on the 21st. The New Americans Office at the State Department announced that the hotline has been expanded to operate seven days a week, providing multilingual legal consultations and social service referrals. The city government has strengthened support access through the existing hotline and information systems, forming a coordinated immigrant support network between the city and the state.
Cindy Treminio, the Deputy Director of Operations at the New Americans Office, stated that the ONA immigration legal aid hotline (1-800-566-7636) has been operating seven days a week since January, with service hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, offering support in over 200 languages. She highlighted that the hotline is staffed by multilingual personnel and immigration lawyers, covering legal assistance, mental health, English learning, and employment development, and collaborating with around 50 non-profit organizations to refer callers to suitable resources based on their individual needs.
While the state government expanded immigrant services, the city government continues to strengthen existing hotlines and information tools. Faiza Ali, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, emphasized the city’s dedication to ensuring all residents, regardless of immigration status, can access accurate information and necessary services. The MOIA immigration legal aid hotline can be reached at 1-800-354-0365, with service hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, as well as from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month.
Ali pointed out that many immigrant families are currently facing anxieties related to deportation, detention, family separation, and fraud risks, with misinformation further exacerbating their uncertainties and hindering access to available protective measures. Through the hotline and informational tools like the “Know Your Rights” video, the city aims to provide a trustworthy gateway for people to understand their rights and make informed decisions without fear influencing their choices.
The legal aid hotline event organized by the Catholic Charities Community Services Center also reflects the evolving needs of immigrants. J. Antonio Fernández, the Executive Director of CCCS, highlighted that over 1.5 million children in New York have immigrant parents, with many families living in uncertainty and fearing potential separations due to systemic factors. He mentioned that the organization offers not only legal services but also counseling, case management, and employment support to assist families in maintaining basic stability.
Observations from the frontlines indicate a shift in focus among immigrant families. Liz Markuci, the Hotline Services, Training, and Policy Director at CCCS, noted that recent callers are expressing more anxiety about uncertainties in the future, particularly questions surrounding who will care for their children if parents are detained or deported, in addition to inquiries about legal procedures.
She explained that the immigration legal aid hotline mobilizes over 50 volunteers and personnel from various agencies to address a wide range of issues, including legal referrals, preparing family emergency documents, fraud consultations, and family planning. Call contents vary significantly, with some involving urgent detention cases requiring confirmation of basic information before referral to professional legal resources.
Julia Babayeva, the supervising attorney at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), highlighted concerns among immigrant families about childcare arrangements in the event of parental detention or forced departure. The group assists parents in completing Standby Guardianship documents at three legal clinics in New York City, designating trusted adults to handle children’s education, medical care, and daily arrangements when parents are unable to fulfill their caregiving responsibilities. For free one-on-one consultations, appointments can be made by calling 212-659-6188, with all information kept strictly confidential.