On February 19th, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) teamed up with the Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) in New York City to launch a new hotline for immigrants: 888-958-5264, offering services in 20 different languages. Through this hotline, immigrants can access free, confidential information and referrals.
“We are sending a very strong message to New York’s immigrant community: we are working with non-profit organizations, the state of New York, and city government to ensure that our immigrant communities feel supported, to let them know that we stand with them,” said MOIA Director Manuel Castro. “In these times of heightened anxiety and fear, we aim to provide as much assistance as possible, ensuring they have a phone number to call in case of questions, receiving services in their own language. We are proud to offer a variety of Chinese services for the Asian-Pacific community, so be sure to check out our services, make sure you know about this hotline number, and know who to call when dealing with immigration enforcement agencies.”
Desireé Hernández Sánchez, Director of the Legal Department at CCCS, stated that immigrants can call the hotline to inquire about any questions of interest, with counselors available to help find real answers for immigrants.
“Therefore, anyone affected by immigration policies, or anyone suspecting immigration fraud, please contact us, we can assist you in finding the right place and getting genuine services,” she said.
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and CCCS Executive Director Bishop Kevin Sullivan also participated in the hotline announcement event, expressing the Church’s welcoming attitude towards immigrants.
For more information about immigrant rights and resources, visit the MOIA website: nyc.gov/immigrants. ◇