Catholic Charities Hosts Immigration Info Session and Legal Clinic

NEWBURGH, NY — Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, in partnership with Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster, recently hosted a free community Immigration Information Session and Legal Clinic at Mount Saint Mary College.

"The path to lawful status can be a long, difficult, and frequently complicated journey," officials for the nonprofit said in a news release. "Catholic Charities strives to clear some of the confusion, dispel rumors, and provide accurate information and resources for immigrant families that attend the clinic."

Catholic Charities’ team of seven attorneys provided individual legal consultations to 53 immigrant families. The day’s events also included a “Know Your Rights” training program to help immigrants understand what they can, and should, do if they are contacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, safety planning strategies, benefits and services information, and guidance on how to report and protect against fraud. Other topics addressed with participants included how to obtain a driver’s license and workers’ rights information.

“The path to citizenship is complex and frequently fraught with misinformation,” said Shannon Kelly, CEO, Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan & Ulster. “We are grateful to Mount Saint Mary College for hosting the clinic and to our immigration legal services colleagues for bringing these important legal clinics to our region and providing these valuable services free of charge to the newest members of our community."

Seven volunteers, many of whom were bilingual, helped with translation and gathered background information from clinic attendees so that the legal team had the information necessary to provide the most appropriate advice and options, according to the news release. After meeting with the legal team, 28 individuals were found eligible for immigration benefits and 12 were scheduled for follow-up legal assistance.

Catholic Charities will host the next Immigration Legal Services Clinic June 21 at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie. Topics that may be covered include free application assistance for renewal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Green Card renewals, Know Your Rights during contact with ICE, information about available services and resources for immigrant families, and free immigration legal consultations for all in need.

To schedule an appointment for the next clinic, call (347) 921-0631 or email cccscommclinics@gmail.com. Individuals in need of assistance who are unable to attend a clinic should contact the Catholic Charities Newburgh Office of Immigration Services office at 845-562-4736, or call Catholic Charities’ Office for New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 for assistance in more than 200 languages, officials said in the news release.

According to the media outlet National Catholic Reporter, Catholic Charities has become a target across the country for "right-leaning media personalities, conspiracy theorists and even members of Congress." SEE: Threats to Catholic Charities staffers rise amid far-right anti-migrant campaign

According to NCR, "The smear campaign is rooted in opposition to offering aid to immigrants ... The result has been a series of unsettling incidents that have transpired near or even inside Catholic Charities facilities in what officials say is a rapidly growing threat to their safety."

One of the personalities targeting Catholic Charities is James O'Keefe, founder and former CEO of Westchester County-based Project Veritas.

According to National Catholic Reporter, O'Keefe pretended to be an exterminator to try to get inside a hotel being used by Catholic Charities San Diego to house asylum seekers, and then "doxxed" workers at the nonprofit.

Catholic Charities is a 113-year-old faith-based nonprofit. On its website, the umbrella organization says "Last year, Catholic Charities agencies nationwide served more than 15 million of our at-risk neighbors — people without homes, those who are unemployed or underemployed, children who are hungry or malnourished, elderly persons who are isolated, vulnerable migrants and refugees on the move, families recovering from natural disasters, pregnant women and new mothers in need, and persons with disabilities who have inadequate care."

To find out more about volunteer opportunities with Catholic Charities, visit www.catholiccharitiesnyvolunteer.org.