SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGAL AID SOCIETY
IMMIGRATION UNIT
STAFF CONTACT US Long Island Regional Immigration Assistance Center Click Here
The immigration laws of the United States condition deportation and immigration benefits in large part on an immigrant’s contact with the criminal justice system. The Immigration Unit of the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society provides critical advice and assistance to the Legal Aid Society’s immigrant clients about the consequences of the criminal and family law proceedings they are facing. Criminal convictions, as well as admissions made in the course of criminal or family court proceedings, can often have negative consequences for a person’s immigration status. You may ask your criminal defender or family court attorney to speak with the Immigration Unit if you have questions about the potential immigration consequences in your case, but even if you don’t, your criminal defender will contact us to ensure that any case disposition takes into consideration your immigration status, and that you receive the immigration-related information you need to make decisions about your case. We will need the information here (link to form) to assist you. We do not provide direct representation in removal proceedings or applications for immigration benefits.
The federal government in 2014 instituted polices for the detention and removal of undocumented immigrants from the United States. Much of the basis for prioritizing immigrants for removal is connected to an immigrant’s criminal history. For more information about the detention and removal priorities, click here.
Immigration benefits and removal are governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act. You can find the INA on the USCIS website, here.
If you are already represented by an immigration lawyer, the Immigration Unit will try to coordinate with that attorney to achieve a resolution in your criminal case that is as beneficial as possible to your situation; we will also provide our own assessment of your case. Please let your defender know how to contact your lawyer. If you are not represented, below are some non-profit groups that may be able to assist you with your situation.
Free/Low Cost Immigration Legal Service Providers:
BROOKLYN DEFENDERS SERVICES IMMIGRATION UNIT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
CARECEN
LEGAL AID SOCIETY IMMIGRATION UNIT
HOFSTRA LAW SCHOOL LEGAL CLINICS
MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK
SEPA MUJER
THE DOOR
Information about Immigration and Criminal Defense
The Immigrant Defense Project
Immigrant Legal Resources Center
Suffolk County Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service
CLICK HERE for LONG ISLAND REGIONAL IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE CENTER