Free Informational Workshops and Confidential Legal Advice

Five Events in Five Neighborhoods

QUEENS, NY – Borough President Melinda Katz and her Immigration Task Force announced details of their upcoming “Know Your Rights Week”, a series of free informational workshops and confidential legal clinics for immigrants in various neighborhoods between June 25-29, 2018 throughout Queens, where immigrants make up nearly half of its 2.3 million residents. The week will consist of five events across Elmhurst, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Jamaica and Sunnyside.

The centerpiece event of the week will be the 2018 Immigration Resource Fair on Thursday, June 28 from 4:00 – 9:00 PM at Queens Center shopping mall located at 90-15 Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst. The annual fair connects people with over 30 organizations, including government agencies, legal resources, nonprofits and local businesses that serve the borough’s immigrant community.  Resource tables will be set up on Level 2 of the Queens Center mall; a free and confidential legal clinic will be on Level 3 of the Queens Center mall, where attorneys will be on hand to address issues related to immigration, housing and employment.

“We are in deeply troubling times,” Borough President KATZ said.  “Our country’s increasingly dehumanizing immigration laws and procedures are tearing families apart, even in a Sanctuary City like New York. Broad raids and sweeps of immigration enforcement, even of those without a criminal record, have successfully spread fear and imposed a chilling effect on everyday activities and responsibilities. But we are a nation of immigrants, and Queens is about all of our families’ futures. In partnership with a host of organizations and colleagues in local government, we are pleased to hold the first – but certainly not the last – Know Your Rights Week for Immigrants, designed to connect our various communities to committed legal experts, advocates and other resources. Together, we will do everything possible to help counteract the hostility of the current political climate. Queens has your back.”

All services and legal consultations provided during the week will be free and confidential; appointments are recommended for most of the events, although walk-ins are also welcome at all events. People are encouraged to ask questions with immigration lawyers, experts and advocates, and seek guidance on the rights that immigrants are afforded under the law. Among the services offered will be legal advice on removal proceedings, clinics on the naturalization process and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and one-on-one consultations for individuals who are in removal proceedings or are seeking asylum.

“Our state’s strength lies in its diversity,” said New York State Lieutenant Governor KATHY HOCHUL. “We have a proud and strong history of protecting immigrant rights, and ‘Know Your Rights Week,’ spearheaded by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, offers immigrants assistance and guidance on their rights under the law. We want to ensure that Queens and New York State remain a home of opportunities and safety for immigrants and their families.”

“Nearly half of our borough’s population immigrated here from another country, making Queens one of the most culturally rich counties in the entire country,” said New York State Senator LEROY COMRIE. “I commend Borough President Katz and her office’s Immigration Task Force for organizing ‘Know Your Rights Week’ to bring attention to the important issues that immigrants face and deliver much needed free immigration services to neighborhood across our borough.”

“Borough President Katz’s Know Your Rights workshops will empower immigrant families,” said DANIEL DROMM, member of the New York City Council.  “My district is home to one of the largest and most diverse immigrant communities in the state.  I am pleased that the Borough President is making every effort to protect our immigrants from harassment, discrimination and violence.  I will continue to work alongside her to ensure that Queens remains a safe haven for all people.”

“Catholic Migration Services is pleased to participate in Queens Borough President Katz’s Know Your Rights Week by providing free legal consultations to immigrants who are at risk of removal, many of whom may be eligible to gain lawful status but are unaware due to lack of access to free and reliable assistance,” said DAVID COLODNY, Director of Legal Services of Catholic Migration Services.

“In these times, it’s crucial that immigrant New Yorkers have easy access to comprehensive legal services to seek a broad range of relief,” said LEENA KHANDWALA, Supervising Attorney with the Immigration Law Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “The Legal Aid Society is proud to partner with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz for Immigrants Week to help residents access those essential services. Queens is the second most diverse county in the country and it’s vital that residents Know Their Rights on all immigration related matters.”

“As a leading immigrant rights organization that provides free and multi-lingual immigrant services to Korean American, Asian American, and broader immigrant communities in New York, the MinKwon Center is proud to partner with Queens Borough President Melinda Katz for Know Your Rights Week,” said JOHN PARK, Executive Director of the MinKwon Center. “New York City is home to more than 3 million foreign-born immigrants, which includes 78 percent of the approximately 1.2 million Asian Americans in the City. With a federal political landscape hostile towards immigrants, it is more important than ever to provide accessible services and Know Your Rights education to New Yorkers.”

“This immigrant heritage month, we are so honored to partner with our Borough President Melinda Katz, an unwavering champion for the rights of our immigrant communities,” said NADIA GAREEB, Executive Director of Queens Legal Services. “In the face of uncertainty and changing immigration policies that make our families, neighbors and communities feel afraid and under siege, we at Queens Legal Services are ready to make our free and safe immigration legal services available to Queens residents at the weeklong immigrant legal fair organized by the Borough President,” said Nadia Gareeb, Director of Queens Legal Services.

The full schedule for the 2018 Know Your Rights Week for Immigrants is as follows (flier also attached):

Mon, June 25            The Legal Aid Society will provide screenings for individuals facing removal (deportation) proceedings.

Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Location: The Queens Library at Jackson Heights, 35-51 81st Street, Jackson Heights.

Languages on-site: English, French, Spanish. Additional languages will be interpreted through a telephone interpretation service.

Appointments: Walk-ins are welcome but appointments are recommended. Please email [email protected] for an appointment.  Anyone with an appointment should bring their Notice to Appear and any other immigration documents related to their case.

Tue, June 26              Queens Legal Services will offer a legal clinic on naturalization issues.

Time: 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

Location: Queens Legal Services, 89-00 Sutphin Boulevard – 5th Floor, Jamaica.

Languages on-site: English, Korean, Spanish. Additional languages will be interpreted through a telephone interpretation service.

Appointments: Please call for an appointment at (917) 661-4500.

Wed, June 27            MinKwon Center for Community Action will hold a clinic on issues related to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Location: MinKwon Center for Community Action, 136-19 41st Avenue ‑ 3rd Floor, Flushing.

Languages on-site: Services will be provided in English, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Spanish.

Appointments: Please contact Eri Cahill for an appointment at 718-460-5600 Ext. 505 or at [email protected].

Thu, June 28             Borough President Katz and her Immigration Task Force will hold their 2018 Immigration Resource Fair in partnership with District Attorney Richard A. Brown, State Senator Toby Stavisky, Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry and City Councilmember Daniel Dromm.

Time:  4:00 – 9:00 PM*

Location: Queens Center mall, 90-15 Queens Boulevard, Elmhurst

Languages on-site: English, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Croatian, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog

Appointments: Walk-ins only, no appointments.

Fri, June 29               Catholic Migration Services will offer one-on-one consultations for those in removal proceedings or who are seeking asylum.

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Location: Catholic Migration Services, 47-01 Queens Boulevard – Room 203, Sunnyside.

Languages on-site: English. Additional languages will be interpreted through a telephone interpretation service.

Appointments: Please call for an appointment at (347) 472-3500 and mention “Know Your Rights Week: Immigrants” when calling.

Partners in the June 2018 Know Your Rights Week for Immigrants include Asian Americans for Equality, Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens, Catholic Migration Services, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, the Legal Aid Society, the MinKwon Center for Community Action, NYC Emergency Management, the New York City Human Resources Administration, the NYS Department of Labor – Division of Immigrant Policies & Affairs, Queens Legal Services and the Queens Library’s New Americans Program.

 

Suivez la présidente d'arrondissement Katz via @melindakatz ou www.facebook.com/queensbpkatz

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