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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.


Administrative Dream Act Announced for Young Immigrants Brouchure (Engilish) (Spanish)


ARTICLES

Empire Justice Center 2013 State Legislative Priorities
Empire Justice budget and substantive legislative priorities for 2013. Read More

Access to Disaster Benefits for Immigrants without Status
Updated: There is an exception to the general rule that immigrants must be in a legal status to be eligible for federal public benefits and that is in the case of “short term, non-cash, in kind emergency disaster relief.” Thus emergency shelters for victims displaced by Hurricane Sandy, warming centers, and of course food pantries and soup kitchens are open to all. Read More


IN THE NEWS

Report Presents “Immigrant Eligibility Crosswalk” and Urges Continued Advances in Immigrant Access to Health Care as NY Implements Insurance Exchange
Today, Empire Justice Center released a report that chronicles immigrant access to health care in New York and zeros in on significant advancements to come with the new State Health Insurance Exchange. Read More


Immigration Reform: NY Reacts
Our President and CEO, Anne Erickson, weighs in on recent developments in immigration reform at the national level. Read More


POLICY ADVOCACY

Empire Justice Testimony Regarding New York’s State’s Draft Child Care Development Fund Plan for FFY 2014-2015
Our testimony on New York's draft CCDF PLan for 2014 - 2015, including comments on access to quality child care, the effects of lead poisoning on minority communities, immigrant access to quality child care and access to language services at local district offices. Read More


Empire Justice Testimony on Economic Abuse as a Form of Domestic Abuse
Our testimony on critical issues impacting victims of domestic violence and their families. Read More



PUBLICATIONS

New York’s Exchange Portal: A Gateway to Coverage for Immigrants
Health Insurance Exchanges have the potential to eliminate many existing barriers to health insurance coverage for low-income workers facing reductions in salaries and benefits. Immigrant families, whose incomes tend to be lower to begin with, have been particularly hard hit by escalating health care costs. National figures from 2010 indicate that 75% of workers in noncitizen families were in traditional blue collar jobs, as compared to 60% of workers from citizen families. The average median annual income for noncitizens was $25,000, roughly half the amount for citizen households. In New York, home to 4.3 million immigrants, noncitizens are over three times as likely as citizens to lack health insurance. Read More

 

Wage Justice Project for Low-Wage & Immigrant Workers Brochure
Learn about the Wage Justice Project for low wage and immigrant workers. Learn your workplace rights and how to protect them. Contact us for free legal help.Labor Standards Act, New York Labor Law, and the Wage Theft Payment Act. Read More

 

NEWSLETTERS

Policy Matters - June 2013
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TRAININGS AND EVENTS

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