Immigration & Legal Services

LSSNY’s Immigration Hotline – a New Resource for Immigrants

In the wake of changing immigration policy, many immigrant communities are confused and scared about where to turn to for accurate information and assistance. In response to the concerns expressed by several of our constituents and community members, LSSNY has created an immigration hotline where individuals can call and ask general questions about immigration law, current immigration policies, and where to access additional assistance.  

Calls will be answered in person from 3:30pm-4:30pm, Monday to Friday. At other times, callers can leave a message and someone from the Immigration Legal Program will call them back. The hotline number is (212) 870-1179.

 Only general inquiries – not specific legal advice – will be answered on the hotline. Please continue to refer those with questions regarding their specific cases to LSSNY’s Immigration Legal Program at (212) 265-1826, x3013.

Since 1886, Lutheran Social Services of New York has supported vulnerable individuals, families and communities – including immigrants – as they strive to reach their full potential. Our Immigration Legal Program (ILP) has provided representation, legal advice and community outreach to many immigrants and refugees across New York City. We represent immigrants seeking protection from persecution and violence, families seeking reunification and aspiring U.S. Citizens from all over the world. Lutheran Social Services of New York will continue to advocate on behalf of all people, regardless of race, creed, color, gender, national origin or religion.

Immigration Legal Program (ILP):

The ILP represents applicants seeking political asylum, family-based immigration status, citizenship, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, Temporary Protected Status, relief under the Violence Against Women Act, and U visas for survivors of crime. It also defends immigrants in deportation proceedings.

The ILP is part of ActionNYC, a network of immigration legal service providers.

In 2016, the ILP:

  • represented 45 unaccompanied minors before Family Courts, Immigration Court, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and worked with pro-bono attorneys to help additional unaccompanied minors.
  • filed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions.
  • represented clients in 32 asylum cases, including 11 cases directly involving gender-based violence.
  • represented 98 Central American clients in 265 immigration cases.

 

Contact the ILP Midtown Office at:

75 W. 125 St., NY, NY 10027

Phone: 212.265.1826 | fax: 212.265.2238

Safe Haven for Children Program:

The Safe Haven program provides follow-up case management services to minors who arrive in the country without parents or guardians and who have been released to qualified sponsors in the New York Metropolitan area, pending their immigration court proceedings.

In 2016, the Safe Haven Program:

  • provided temporary shelter and foster care to 58 unaccompanied children at any given time through a contract with the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
  • supported the needs of unaccompanied children by providing high-quality case management services through a team of clinicians, teachers and child care workers.
  • improved unaccompanied children’s access to medical and mental health services, as well as quality educational services.

 

For More Information Please Contact:
Cecilia Aranzamendez, LMSW, Esq.
Executive Director for Community Services
212.870.1113 | caranzamendez@lssny.org