The Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act application is open!

Beginning with the 2019-20 academic year, thousands more students seeking a college degree may be eligible for NYS financial aid to support their higher education costs through the New York State DREAM Act:

• Those with certain documented and undocumented statuses, including DACA status
• Lawful permanent residents
• U.S. citizens

Your immigration status is kept confidential by New York State and your college under New York State and federal law. For more information, visit hesc.ny.gov/dream

The Albany County Immigration Assistance Center also offers immigration advice and support to immigrants and their loved ones.

Call the immigration helpline for assistance 1 (833) 373-2677.

Do not hesitate to leave a voicemail at any time. We will return calls in a timely fashion. 

When calling the helpline, please have the following information ready:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Date of entry to the United States
• Manner of entry (for example: with a green card; on a temporary visa; crossing the border without documents; as a refugee)
• Current immigration status (for example: green card holder; temporary visa holder; undocumented; asylee/refugee; Temporary Protected Status)
• Whether person has ever been deported
• Immigration status of family members (spouse, parents, children)

ABOUT KFT PAROLE

Please note: On November 7,  2024, a federal judge in Texas struck down this program. This webpage will be updated if/when it is clear that the Biden administration will appeal the decision. 

On June 17, 2024, the Biden administration announced a “Keeping Families Together” Parole-In-Place process (KFT Parole).

KFT Parole allows certain undocumented spouses and step-children of US citizens to stay and work in the US.  If granted KFT parole, this opens a path to apply for lawful permanent residency (a green card).

Contact with the criminal legal system can affect one's ability to get KFT parole.

The Immigrant Defense Project website offers a Frequently Asked Questions document in English and in Spanish:

• English [.pdf]
• Español [.pdf]

Individuals who qualify will be able to stay and work in the U.S. for up to 3 years upon receiving KFT parole.

If granted KFT parole, they may be able to start the process of applying for a green card while in the United States.

LAWSUIT AND STAY

United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) began accepting applications on August 19, 2024.

However, on August 26, 2024, there was a lawsuit filed against the Keeping Families Together Parole-in-Place that resulted in a stay being issued for 14 days. The stay has now been extended until September 23, 2024.

The stay means that although USCIS can still receive applications for KFT parole, they are unable to make decisions or grant any applications during this time.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

More information can be found on the US Citizenship & Immigration Services website: Keeping Families Together | USCIS

Haga clic para ver en espanol

In response to the current threat of deportation that many noncitizens face, the following information regarding Know Your Rights is crucial: who is at risk of ICE enforcement and what to do if you encounter ICE in your home or on the street. These infographics, courtesy of Immigrant Defense Project, are designed to equip noncitizens with the knowledge of what to do.

View all six (6) infographics

New York DMV | Driver licenses and the Green Light Law (ny.gov)

The Driver's License Access and Privacy Act, commonly called the 'Green Light law allows all New Yorkers age 16 and older to apply for a standard, not for federal purpose, non-commercial driver license or learner permit regardless of their citizenship or lawful status in the United States.

The Immigrant Defense Project offers an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainer FAQ, available in English and Spanish.

This is an “ICE Detainer 101” with explanations, including:

• What is an ICE Detainer?
• Why do I have an ICE Detainer?
• How does ICE know about Me?
• How Long Can I Be Held in Criminal Custody on a Detainer?
• What Can I Do About an ICE detainer?

Check-In | ICE

Please follow all instructions provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

You should check the immigration court system every week to see if you have been scheduled for a hearing in immigration court. You can call the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or go to this immigration court website. You will need to enter your A Number. It is essential to attend all of your immigration court hearings if you want to pursue your case.

Visit the field local office - call first, but walk-ins are allowed. 

Buffalo Field Office
11 Old Stonebreak Road
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 289-1800

Area Coverage: Counties of Albany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington

Appointment Times: Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00AM-3:00PM.

Email: Buffalo.Outreach@ice.dhs.gov

• Pre-petition intervention
• Intervención pre-petición

Disponible aquí en español

If you or a loved one are at risk of deportation, make an emergency plan which include the following important components:

• meet with a lawyer;
• medical needs;
• childcare needs;
• financial needs.

You can find sample documents including financial, health, and childcare planning documents to assist with planning for the possibility of detention and deportation.

1. Organize your personal documents:

• Keep original identity & personal documents in a safe place. Make and store copies where someone you trust can access them if you are detained.
• Gather immigration and criminal history documents. These will help a lawyer figure out if you have any legal defenses against deportation ("relief").
  • Immigration documents include any applications submitted to immigration or any documents showing your A# (alien number), if you have one.
  • Criminal documents: certificates of disposition from courts and/or rap sheet
• Carry important information with you at all times, including:
  • Contact information for loved ones;
  • Contact information for school and point of contact for children;
  • Important medical information, including contact information for doctors as well as medication information (name/dosages).

2. Meet with a lawyer as soon as possible to see if you qualify for any legal defenses against deportation ("relief").

If hiring a lawyer, always have a signed contract and make sure to review the document in your preferred language. Make sure both of you sign the contract and you get a copy.

3. Plan for medical needs

• Write down and carry important medical information with you, including contact information for your doctors and the name and dosages of any medications you take.
• Consider allowing someone you trust to have access to your medical information in case they need it to help your legal case or so you have proper medical care if detained.
• To do this, consider signing a HIPAA form (available in English and Spanish) giving them access to your medical files and allowing your doctors to communicate with them about your medical needs.

4. Plan for childcare needs

• Write down and carry contact information for childcare and your child’s school.
• Identify someone who can care for your children if you are detained. Make sure that person agrees to act as a caretaker and has the following information:
  • School location and contact information
  • Any medical conditions your child has and how to address their needs, including contact information for doctors and information on medications and/or allergies
  • Emergency contact information for other loved ones
• Put important documents for each child in a safe place where your emergency caretaker can get them. This may include 
  • your child’s medical/school records, 
  • birth certificate, and 
  • any legal agreements you have made with your emergency caretaker.
• Consult with a lawyer about whether to grant a loved one power to make legal decisions for your child if you are detained.
• If you live in New York, we recommend using this form (available in English and Spanish) which allows you to designate an adult to care for and make decisions for your children. The agreement does not require you to go to court and can be revoked at any time.

5. Plan for financial needs

Consult with an expert about whether to grant a loved one power to access your finances and make financial decisions if you are detained. There is a special power of attorney form for financial matters. This legal document allows a loved one to do things like access your bank account, pick up your paycheck, pay bills, and use your money to pay bond. Learn more in Families for Freedom’s "Financial Handbook for Families Facing Detention + Deportation," April 2008.

Afghan Support Day (Open to All Nationalities)
March 21-23, 2024
Learn more »

• English Conversation Clubs: Fall 2023
• Learn English and Life skills on the go brought to you by ONA

For Afghan clients, the following resources are available:

• A 24-hour crisis helpline for individuals in crisis needing immediate, culturally appropriate counseling in Dari, Pashto, and English: 1 (800) 615-6514.
• Domestic violence and sexual abuse support for women and youth: 1 (800) 615-6514.

If you have moved, call ICE’s national phone number at 1-833-383-1465 to update your address. You may also need to change your address with other immigration agencies.

You need to update your address separately with every immigration agency you interact with. This can include one or more of these agencies: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), immigration court, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP).