Legal Aid Society
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Immigration & Deportation

We provide urgent legal services to reunify families and assist low-income immigrants in obtaining lawful status, applying for citizenship, and defending against deportation.

How To Get Help

For help with legal immigration matters or information, referrals, or resources related to an immigration matter please visit or call 311 and say “Action NYC” Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

New Immigrants in New York City

If you are a new immigrant to New York City, you probably have questions about the U.S. legal system. Legal Aid has created a set of resources to address common issues you may face. Click here for more information. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs website has additional legal information and resources.

Detained Individuals

Individuals detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may be eligible for representation through the New York Immigrant Family Unit Project (NYIFUP) if the Immigration Court case is in New York City or, if you are a New York City resident, and your case is in New Jersey. For more information please email our NYIFUP team at nyifup@legal-aid.org.

Important Things To Know

Resources for new immigrants in New York City.

Learn More

Individuals from certain countries with unsafe conditions can reside and work legally in the U.S. temporarily.

Learn More

What new arrivals to New York City need to know about seeking shelter.

Learn More

Terms You Might Hear

The justice system can be overwhelming. Get familiar with some legal terms and acronyms you might hear like appeal, adjournment, petition, jurisdiction, deposition, and affidavit.

  • Attorney – A person admitted to practice law and authorized to perform criminal and civil legal functions on behalf of clients.
  • Beneficiary – Generally, a beneficiary is a person or entity who receives a profit, advantage, or benefit. For example, a person named to receive something in a will is a beneficiary under such will. Or refers to alien who has as a petitioner formally filing on their behalf to receive immigration benefits.
  • Brief – A written document prepared by the lawyers on each side of a dispute that is submitted to the court in support of each side's argument. It includes the points of law which the lawyer wishes to establish, the arguments the lawyer will use, and the legal authorities on which the lawyer rests their conclusions.
  • Child Health Plus – New York State's health insurance plan for children. You can apply for Child Health Plus through the New York State Health Marketplace.
  • Conviction – A criminal proceeding that concludes the defendant is guilty of the charged crime.
  • DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. An American immigration policy that protects eligible immigrant youth who came to the U.S. when they were children from deportation and allows access to work permit.
  • EOIR – Executive Office of Immigration Review
  • Essential Plan – A new Insurance Affordability Program launched in 2016 that offers qualified individuals and families a choice of plans from high-quality private health insurers through the NY State of Heath.
  • Evidence – A form of proof or probative matter legally presented at the trial of an issue by the acts of the parties and through witnesses, records, documents, concrete objects, etc., for the purpose of inducing belief in the minds of the court or the jury.
  • Expunge – To intentionally destroy, obliterate, or strike out records or information in files, computers, and other depositories.
  • Felony – An offense of graver character than a misdemeanor and usu. punished by imprisonment for more than one year.
  • Lawyer – Someone whose job is to give advice to people about the law and speak for them in court.
  • Lien – A claim on specific property for payment of a debt.
  • McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – This law ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness.
  • Medicaid – A health insurance program for low-income and individuals with disabilities. Jointly paid for by the federal and state government.
  • Minor – A child under 18 years old.
  • Misdemeanor – Lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or county jail time for up to one year. Misdemeanors are distinguished from felonies which can be punished by a state prison term.
  • Mortgage – A legal document by which the owner (i.e., the buyer) transfers to the lender an interest in real estate to secure the repayment of a debt, evidenced by a mortgage note.
  • Motion – A request to the court, usually in writing, for relief before the trial on the parties' claims, or for different or additional relief after the trial decision.
  • Petition – In special or summary proceedings, a paper like a document filed in court and delivered to the respondents, stating what the petitioner requests from the court and the respondents.
  • Probation – The condition of being allowed freedom if they commit no more crimes and follow certain rules.
  • Proceeding – A type of lawsuit. For example: In Housing Court, a nonpayment proceeding seeks past-due rent; a holdover proceeding seeks possession of the premises.
  • Public Charge – An immigration law that can be basis for denying a non-citizen entry in the U.S., or for denying an application to adjust status if they are applying through a family member.
  • Settlement – A written compromise reached by the parties and approved by a judge.
  • Social Security – A federal program that provides income, health insurance, and other benefits.
  • Summons – A plaintiff's written notice delivered to the parties being sued, that they must respond to within a specific time.
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – A federal income supplement program designed to assist aged, blind, and disabled people with little to no income and to provide cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
  • T-VISA – An immigration visa allowing certain victims of human trafficking and immediate family members to remain and work in the U.S. temporarily.
  • TPS – Temporary Protective Status. Offers temporary legal status to certain immigrants in the United States who cannot return to their home country due to ongoing armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary reasons.
  • Tenant – A person who occupies a property owned by another, based upon an agreement between the person and the landlord/owner.
  • Trial – The formal examination of a legal controversy in court so as to determine the issue.
  • USCIS – United States Citizen and Immigration Services
  • Waive – To voluntarily give up a right. Examples include not enforcing the terms of a contract, or knowingly giving up a legal right such as a speedy trial.