Immigration

Overview

Syracuse has been and always will be a welcoming city and proud refugee and immigrant resettlement community. Our goal is to protect the safety of all our residents and help connect residents to information and resources.

As a welcoming city, we are focused on:

Ensuring all residents can fully participate in civic life
Creating opportunities for all
Strengthening diverse community relationships
Building trust and transparency
Prioritizing safety
Ensuring equitable access to services

Immigration Partners

The City works with congressional, state and local community partners to help connect families to information and resources about their rights and legal options. Please use the information below to learn more:

Local Government Partners

City of Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Coordinator
The Department of Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD) created the position of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Coordinator to support strategic coordination with resettlement agencies and programs. Adol Mayen currently serves in this role, working to build community partnerships and advocacy aimed at improving quality of life for immigrant and refugee communities in Syracuse.

Contact: Adol Mayen | 315-448-8100 | nbd@syr.gov | Website

City of Syracuse Police Department
It is the mission of the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) to prevent crime, enforce the laws, and understand the needs of the community, while providing professional service and ethical treatment for everyone.

Contact: 315-442-5200 | spd@syr.gov | Website
Position: View Statement Here(PDF, 894KB)

Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) serves as the primary law enforcement agency for Onondaga County, New York. It holds jurisdiction over all county areas, providing essential services such as patrols, criminal investigations, and maintaining order. The office operates specialized units, including a boat patrol covering the county’s waterways. The OCSO also oversees two jails, managing the detention of individuals in both the Onondaga County Justice Center and the Jamesville Correctional Facility. In addition, the Sheriff's Office handles felony investigations, collaborating with other agencies to investigate and solve serious crimes within the county.

Contact: 315-435-3044 | Website
Position: View Statement Here(PDF, 2MB)

Onondaga County Probation Department
The Onondaga County Probation Department provides public safety through supervision, treatment and prevention. Probation Officers are peace officers with dual responsibilities of protection of the community and rehabilitation of the offender. The ultimate goal is long term public safety and the reduction of further victimization.

Contact: 315-435-2321 | Website
Position: View Statement Here(PDF, 894KB)

Syracuse City School District
The Syracuse City School District (SCSD) educates more than 19,000 students each day, from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. To respond to Syracuse's diverse population, SCSD has the English as a New Language and Bilingual Education Department to ensure that all English Language Learners (ELLs) / Multilingual Learners (MLLs) will acquire and develop English language proficiency through the receipt of a rigorous curriculum, research-based teaching strategies and social/emotional supports.

Contact: Superintendent Office | 315-435-4161 | tpiraino@scsd.us | Website
Position: View Policy Here(PDF, 989KB)

Local Community Partners

Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities of Onondaga County has been resettling refugees for more than 50 years. The organization helps people in need regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, or nationality.

Contact: Felicia Castricone | 315-741-8965 | fcastricone@ccoc.us | Website

Hiscock Legal Aid Society
Hiscock Legal Aid provides free legal services to individuals and families in need in Onondaga County and the surrounding region. Their practice areas include immigration, tenants' rights and eviction defense, foreclosure prevention, divorce and family law, domestic violence, unemployment insurance, criminal appeals, and parole revocation defense. Our Immigration Program provides representation in 18 counties throughout New York State, covering the Central New York, North Country, and Mohawk Valley regions.

Contact: Gregory W. Dewan, Esq. | 315-422-8191 | Website

InterFaith Works’ Center for New Americans
InterFaith Works’ Center for New Americans resettles refugees from the Middle East, Asia and Africa, as well as those asylees from many other countries, helping refugees and immigrant families integrate into their new communities. The center also provides English classes, employment preparation and immigration, medical case management, mental health services, cultural orientation, referrals and community navigation services.

Contact: 315-449-3552 | info@ifwcny.org | Website

New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)
NYCLU works to advance civil rights and civil liberties so that all New Yorkers can live with dignity, liberty, justice, and equality. New York is home to one of the largest and most diverse immigrant populations in the country. NYCLU ensures immigrant communities know their rights and fights hate and unjust policies so immigrants can live openly, with opportunity and due process.

Intake Line: 1-212-607-3300 | Website

New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC)
NYIC is a state-wide, member-led coalition of immigrant and refugee organizations. NYIC works to transform the lives of all New Yorkers by strengthening and building their members' power, organizing and educating communities and the public, and using collective voice to advocate for opportunity and justice.

Contact: 917-734-6148 | Website

Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE)
RISE advocates for and facilitates economic independence and community inclusion for refugees and immigrants through education, employment, social support, and service navigation.

Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY
VLPCNY is a non-profit legal aid organization that provides free legal information, assistance, and representation in civil legal matters to low-income people in Central New York. Services are provided by staff and volunteer attorneys with the help of paralegals and law students. Services throughout Central New York include legal issues related to housing, family, elder, LGBT* rights, immigration, debt, and economic opportunity.

Contact: 315-471-3409 ext. 601 | immigration@vlpcny.org | Website

Workers Center of CNY
The Workers’ Center of Central New York is a grassroots organization focused on workplace and economic justice. Through community organizing, leadership development, popular education and policy advocacy, the Workers’ Center of Central New York empowers low-wage workers to combat workplace abuses and improve wages and working conditions throughout the community. The Worker's Center of CNY is a member of the New York Immigration Council and Syracuse Immigrant and Refugee Defense Network (SIRDN).

Contact: Jessica Maxwell | 315-218-5708 | wccny@workerscentercny.org | Website

State and Federal Government Partners

New York State Office of Attorney General Letitia James
The Office of the New York State Attorney General promotes equal justice under the law and protects the rights of all New Yorkers, including immigrants. The Attorney General investigates complaints regarding discrimination, education and labor violations, immigration services fraud, harassment, and hate crimes. They also issue guidance to local jurisdictions and law enforcement regarding immigrants’ rights.

Contact: 1-800-771-7755 | File a Complaint | Website

New York State Office for New Americans (ONA)
ONA is a state agency that welcomes new Americans and helps them achieve their American Dream. Through a statewide network of community-based providers, ONA helps all new Americans to access and navigate free services. Available in over 200+ languages, the ONA hotline can help with referrals for immigration and citizenship, referrals to free and low-cost legal assistance, disability services, English language classes, mental health resources, and workforce development programs.

Contact: New Americans' Hotline: 1-800-566-7636 | Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. | newamericans@dos.ny.gov | Website

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
USCIS provides information and services for citizenship, green cards, laws, forms, news, and more.

Contact: 1-800-375-5283 | Website | Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals | Deferred Enforced Departure | Temporary Protected Status

Resources for Individuals: Knowing Your Rights

It is important to know your rights. All residents, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights. To best understand your protections as a resident, we've provided links and information provided by our community partners.

New York State Know Your Rights, Know Your Resources
Find immigration legal help and other resources through the NYS New Americans Hotline, get connected to health and family services information, and learn more about employment, workers' rights and other vital services.

New York Immigration Coalition Community Resources for Immigrant NYers
Find guides, posters, and a community toolkit connecting immigrant New Yorkers with resources and updated information on changing laws and policies.

Immigrant Students' Rights in New York
In New York, everyone between the ages of five to 21 years old has the right to free K-12 public education, regardless of immigration status. Here’s what you need to know about your or your child’s rights in school.

We Have Rights Video Resource
An empowerment campaign to prepare for and safely defend your rights during encounters with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).

New York Legal Assistance Group Video Resource
Watch this video to get important information about how to protect yourself in encounters with ICE and how to be prepared in case of an immigration-related emergency.

National Immigration Law Center
Learn more about key issues impacting immigrant communities and filter by work area and type of resource to view curated guides, toolkits, policy briefs, and more.

Immigrant Legal Resource Center Community Resources
Get clarity around complicated immigration issues with downloadable tools produced for a wide range of audiences, from experienced advocates to directly impacted community members.

NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Refugee Services (RS)
The single state agency responsible for the implementation of services to refugees, here you can learn about programs and services, get assistance for survivors of human trafficking, and find information for providers involved in sustaining a Refugee Services program.

Resources for Families: Planning for Immigration Emergencies

The City partners with local agencies that support families experiencing an immigration emergency. See below for resources they provided to help plan ahead.

Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY Family Preparation Guide
This guide outlines actions you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your rights as a parent, in case you are arrested and detained by immigration officials.

Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY Planning for Immigrant Parents
Learn more about and get access to the forms you need as an immigrant parent in NYS to plan ahead in case of an immigration emergency.

Immigrant Legal Resource Center Toolkit
This toolkit goes into detail about different childcare options available in case of an absent parent, where to find trusted immigration services in your community, and how to prepare to assert your constitutional rights in the presence of an immigration officer.

U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement Online Detainee Locator System
Use this page to locate a detainee who is currently in ICE custody or who has been in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s custody for more than 48 hours.

Language Assistance Services
Browse various language access resources from the Office of Language Access, which provides critical oversight and coordination across New York State agencies to ensure that the statewide language access policy is implemented efficiently and effectively.

Resources for Employers

Employers, nonprofit agencies, and small businesses often look for guidance on how immigration policies affect their services and employees. The following links and guides are a starting point for reliable sources of information for employers.

American Federation of Teachers Guide to Protect Students and Higher Ed Employees
This document includes suggested protocols when encountering an immigration agent on or near college campuses.

Guidance to Private and Non-Profit Organizations and Entities
Joint guidance from the Office of the Governor and Office of the New York State Attorney General intended to provide information to private and nonprofit entities in evaluating how to respond to requests from federal immigration authorities while protecting the rights of their residents, clients, patients, members, and staff.

Immigrant Workers’ Rights
Guidance from the New York State Attorney General to help understand workers’ rights and employers’ obligations

Immigrant Eligibility for Public Benefits in New York State
This resource aims to support service providers guiding noncitizens in accessing public benefits. The chart maps out noncitizen eligibility for a number of federal and New York State benefits, and which of those could potentially have public charge implications.

National Immigration Law Center Guide for Employers
This guide provides practical advice for addressing immigration-related actions in the workplace.

National Employment Law Project
Learn more about how the National Employment Law Project is supporting workers' rights to build a good-jobs economy.

New York Immigration Coalition Know Your Rights Training
Use this form to request a Know Your Rights presentation by the New York Immigration Coalition for your organization / group.

OGS Centralized Language Services Contract
NYS has a contract for translation services at a reduced rate that nonprofits, schools, and government may be able to access, reducing the cost of your translation services. Use this link for information on the process and how to begin your application.