Immigrant Rights
Low income immigrants face numerous obstacles in obtaining government
assistance for basic survival, in large part because the eligibility rules are
complex and not easily understood by local benefit agencies. Immigrants also sorely need representation
in applying for immigration benefits to which they are entitled, particularly
battered immigrants and other victims of crime.
To this end, Empire Justice staff provide services, training and technical
assistance to address these needs. The
Albany and Long Island offices focus on the access by immigrants to the public
benefits to which they are entitled, both through training and representation
of individual clients. Our White Plains
Office represents immigrants in a wide variety of cases with a focus on victims
of crime eligible for U visas and on VAWA self-petitioners. The Albany Office also has a program for the
representation of immigrant victims of domestic violence and other crimes. This section of the website provides
information and resources both about immigrants
and their access to public services and benefits and about potential
immigration remedies for those immigrants who are victims of domestic violence
and other crimes.
Empire Justice Center 2012 Legislative and Executive Agenda
The focus of our state level policy work for 2012. Read More
Utilizing the U Visa to Combat Immigrant Services Fraud
Immigration services fraud, due to its devastation of countless vulnerable immigrant communities, has recently drawn increased attention from policy makers at the local and national levels. The New York State Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau rates this fraud as “an issue of national importance, affecting large segments of communities,” and has taken multiple actions against fraudulent services providers. Read More
Empire Justice Statement on Governor Cuomo’s State of the State Address
Read More
Locals assist with immigration laws
Local, state authorities sometimes drive immigration arrests Read More
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Empire Justice Testimony on New York State’s Draft Child Care Development Fund Plan for FFY 2012-2013
Access to subsidies gives children in low income families the opportunity to engage in an early learning experience that their families could not ordinarily afford. Much of this testimony focuses on areas where we believe OCFS can expand access to child care subsidies to two underserved populations: children in immigrant families and children with special needs. Read More
Empire Justice Center Testimony on Human Services in the 2011-12 Executive Budget Proposal
As New York continues to grapple with the aftermath of the recession, it is essential that we do not forget that there are many among us that are still in its epicenter. Read More
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Tool Kit for Community Health Centers- Helping Patients Access Medicaid
This tool kit provides fact sheets and forms on ten different topics related to helping patients access Medicaid coverage or other help with paying for health care services. Read More
SSI Extension for Refugee
2008 Extension of Time Period for SSI Eligibility of Humanitarian-based Immigrants Read More
Immigrant Eligibility Chart
The Immigrant Benefit Eligibility chart now includes the provisions of the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act of 2008. Read More
Legal Services Journal - Fall 2011
The Fall 2011 Legal Services Journal reports on a wide range of poverty law topics. This issue provides analysis addressing the connection between domestic violence and a victim's increased need, not only for physical protection, but also for privacy safeguards. Also featured in this issue are articles on immigration, language access in hospital care, Medicaid, Food Stamps, foreclosure prevention services program and look at wage theft and the impact on communities and forging a path to wage justice. Thanks to all of our authors for their contributions to this issues of the Legal Services Journal. Read More
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WEBINAR - Immigrant Access to Health Care
In this free lunch and learn webinar, Barbara Weiner of the Empire Justice Center will discuss immigrant eligibility rules for public health care programs in New York, including Medicaid, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus and Medicare. We will also include information about access to health care for immigrants who are unable to qualify for public health insurance. Read More
Food Stamps 101
This course will cover the rights of individuals to apply for food stamp benefits; the financial and non-financial eligibility requirements of the program, including a brief summary of immigrant rules; a basic look at the food stamp budgeting methodology, including how to read a food stamp budget, and the food stamp recertification process. Read More
Immigration Status & Public Benefits Eligibility
This is a training on immigration status as an eligibility requirement in various federal and state public benefits programs. The main focus of the session will be on the immigrant eligibility rules in means tested benefit programs, specifically the Family and Safety Net Assistance Programs, the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI), Food Stamps and Medicaid. In addition to the program rules, we will cover the immigrant documentation requirements of the benefits agencies and some special issues that arise in the context of immigrant use of benefits programs, including public charge, sponsor liability and reporting. Read More
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