Immigrant & Non-Citizen Rights

The INRC represents individuals in federal and immigration court proceedings at the trial and appellate levels. We endeavor to undertake individual cases referred to us by community organizations and in advancement of campaigns for social and economic justice. We represent community organizations by providing legislative and policy counsel on a variety of matters and undertake community education programs in the neighborhoods of New York. Finally, we advocate for individuals with applications for immigration benefits before federal agencies. Overall, we train students to advance social and economic justice through a reflective practice on behalf of individual immigrants and activist groups.

Examples of our work include:

• Litigating in Federal District Court on behalf of immigrant kitchen workers deprived of overtime and straight-time pay against a high-end chain of Manhattan restaurants
• Litigating in Federal District Court on behalf of a domestic worker subject to exploitative work conditions, including an hourly wage below $2 per hour
• Litigating in U.S. Immigration Court on behalf of a 45-year old legal permanent resident in deportation proceedings because of a misdemeanor conviction from 1986
• Litigating in U.S. Immigration Court on behalf of a woman in deportation proceedings who is seeking immigration status independent of the physically and emotionally abusive husband from whom she has escaped
• Litigating in U.S. Immigration Court on behalf of a 23-year old man seeking refugee status because his home was bulldozed and father was killed by the government in his home country due to his involvement in opposition politics
• Creating education programs for community organizations, pro bono practitioners, and applicants for naturalization
• Participating in a city-wide call-in program for immigration law inquiries
• Serving as legislative counsel for a community organization mounting a campaign for pro-immigrant worker legislation in the New York City Council