Catholic Migration Services: Legal Services, Workers’ Rights, and Housing

Overview

Catholic Migration Services’ Employment Unit provides legal advice and representation to low-wage workers on a variety of issues that may arise in the workplace, including:

• Unpaid wages
• Minimum wage and overtime violations
• Job termination
• Discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment
• Sick and family leave
• Unemployment insurance
• Unsafe working conditions
• Workplace crimes that may qualify for T and U Visas

How We Help Workers

Catholic Migration Services provides free legal advice and representation to help workers learn and enforce their workplace rights. Many workplace disputes can be resolved without the need for formal legal proceedings, but when formal proceedings become necessary, we represent workers in state and federal courts, as well as in government investigations. Our attorneys represent workers in proceedings at the New York State Department of Labor, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and other government agencies.

For some examples of recent court cases brought by Catholic Migration Services, please click here.

Contact Us for Free Help

In order to be eligible for our services, workers must either be a resident of New York City or have a workplace dispute that arises from a job in New York City. To request assistance, please call our hotline (877) 52-LABOR (52267) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An initial consultation does not guarantee legal representation by Catholic Migration Services.

Important Information for Undocumented Workers

Undocumented workers have almost all the same rights under New York City, New York State and Federal labor laws as documented workers. Catholic Migration Services provides advice and representation to workers regardless of their immigration status.

Know Your Rights Presentations

Catholic Migration Services’ Employment Unit partners with non-profit organizations, educational institutions, religious organizations, and elected officials to present important legal information to low-wage workers so that workers can learn their rights and avoid falling victim to unlawful employment practices. Our Know Your Rights programs can be conducted in-person or virtually.

If your organization would like to partner with us to present a Know-Your-Rights presentation, contact us today at info@catholicmigration.org.

Overview

Catholic Migration Services’ programs are staffed by experienced attorneys, representatives accredited with the Department of Justice, paralegals and administrative staff. We provide legal advice and representation to immigrants in a variety of matters, including:

• Naturalization/U.S. Citizenship (Learn more here.)
• Green Cards/Permanent Residence
• Asylum and Humanitarian Relief
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Family Reunification
• U and T Visas for Victims of Trafficking and Certain Crimes (T and U visas)
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
• Deportation Defense

How We Help Immigrants

The following programs are staffed by experienced attorneys, representatives accredited with the Department of Justice, paralegals and administrative staff:

• Help eligible immigrants obtain legal status and work authorizations
• Help Legal Permanent Residents become Citizens
• Help immigrants in Deportation/Removal proceedings
• Help immigrants in deportation/removal proceedings represent themselves in Immigration Court and provide assistance with applications for asylum, employment authorization, immigration court motions, and other items.

To view recent successes by Catholic Migration Services, check out our newsletters here.

Contact Us for Free Help

To be eligible for our services, immigrants must be low-income and living in New York City, or for certain programs, New York State. An initial consultation does not guarantee legal representation. Our services are free, but many immigration applications have filing fees; Catholic Migration Services will assist those who are eligible with fee waiver applications. Please note, we have limited capacity and may not be able to assist all who qualify and need services; you may be placed on a waitlist, referred to another provider, or asked to call back when appointments are available.

To request assistance with naturalization applications, please send a text message to 347-305.5520. To request assistance with an affirmative immigration benefit (such as TPS, DACA, family petitions, etc.), or an immigration court case, please call us at 718-236-3000 (Brooklyn) or 347-472-3500 (Queens), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that we only have a limited number of consultation appointments available and may not be able to accommodate your request.

If you are a newly arrived immigrant in removal proceedings, please visit the Pro Se Plus Project for resources and information. To join the waiting list for pro se services, please click here to complete our Interest Form.

Our staff speaks several languages and can provide translation and interpretation accommodations upon request.

Important Information for Undocumented Immigrants

Catholic Migration Services provides advice and representation to people regardless of their immigration status.

Undocumented workers have almost all the same rights under New York City, New York State and Federal labor laws as documented workers. For more information, please see our Employment Law section here.

Undocumented tenants have the same rights to housing and protection from landlord harassment under New York City law. Catholic Migration Services provides advice and representation to tenants regardless of their immigration status. For more information, please see our Housing Law section here.

Overview

Catholic Migration Services’ Employment Unit provides legal advice and representation to low-wage workers on a variety of issues that may arise in the workplace, including: 

• Unpaid wages
• Minimum wage and overtime violations
• Job termination
• Discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment
• Sick and family leave
• Unemployment insurance
• Unsafe working conditions
• Workplace crimes that may qualify for T and U Visas

How We Help Workers

Catholic Migration Services provides free legal advice and representation to help workers learn and enforce their workplace rights.  Many workplace disputes can be resolved without the need for formal legal proceedings, but when formal proceedings become necessary, we represent workers in state and federal courts, as well as in government investigations.  Our attorneys represent workers in proceedings at the New York State Department of Labor, the New York State Division of Human Rights, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and other government agencies.

For some examples of recent court cases brought by Catholic Migration Services, please click here.

Contact Us for Free Help

In order to be eligible for our services, workers must either be a resident of New York City or have a workplace dispute that arises from a job in New York City.  To request assistance, please call our hotline (877) 52-LABOR (52267) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An initial consultation does not guarantee legal representation by Catholic Migration Services.

Important Information for Undocumented Workers

Undocumented workers have almost all the same rights under New York City, New York State and Federal labor laws as documented workers. Catholic Migration Services provides advice and representation to workers regardless of their immigration status.

Know Your Rights Presentations

Catholic Migration Services’ Employment Unit partners with non-profit organizations, educational institutions, religious organizations, and elected officials to present important legal information to low-wage workers so that workers can learn their rights and avoid falling victim to unlawful employment practices. Our Know Your Rights programs can be conducted in-person or virtually.  

If your organization would like to partner with us to present a Know-Your-Rights presentation, contact us today at info@catholicmigration.org.