Immigration Concerns Resource Page

De Novo
47 Thorndike St., Suite SB-LL-1 (lower level)
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 349-4396
http://www.cambridgema.gov/circ

The City of Cambridge and De Novo will hold a Virtual Immigration Legal Screening Clinic on the third Wednesday of each month, providing limited consultations, while City and De Novo offices are closed to public gatherings.

Callers to the Virtual Clinic Message Line at 617- 405-5479 will be asked to leave their name and contact phone number. Callers can leave a message at any time before the noon deadline on the third Wednesday of the month.

A return call from De Novo staff will ask some pertinent questions to enable assignment to an Immigration Attorney, who will contact callers for a limited consultation. Attorneys will return their assigned calls within a few days of receiving their assignments. Calls received by 12 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month will be returned within 3-4 business days.

Once capacity for the clinic is reached, additional callers will be assigned to the next Virtual Clinic, should it be necessary.

---

Irish International Immigrant Center*
One State Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA 02109
(617) 542-7654
http://www.iiicenter.org

Catholic Charities Refugee & Immigrant Services*
275 West Broadway
South Boston, MA 02127
(617) 464-8100
http://www.ccab.org/

Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement*
Boston City Hall
1 City Hall Square, Rm. 806
Boston, MA 02201
(617) 635-2980
https://www.boston.gov/departments/immigrant-advancement

The following non-profit agencies may provide immigration legal services to qualifying persons, following a screening assessment at one of the agencies noted above.

Community Legal Services and Counseling Center 
47 Thorndike Street, Suite SB-LL-1
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 661-1010

Greater Boston Legal Services
197 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 371-1234 

MetroWest Legal Services 
Fountain Street, Suite 304 
Framingham, MA 01702 
(508) 620-1830 ext. 234 

East Boston Ecumenical Community Council
1 West Street 
Cambridge, MA 02139 
(617) 661-1010

Centro Presente
197 Friend Street 
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 371-1234

Political Asylum/Immigrant Representation
Project (PAIR)
254 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 742-9296

For persons who do not qualify for low cost/no cost legal services, Immigration Attorneys can be found through:
American Immigration Lawyers Assn. – New England’s (AILA-NE) Immigration Lawyer Resource service at www.ailalawyer.com

* The City is not affiliated with and does not endorse the agencies listed above.

Metro-Boston & Statewide  

Catholic Charities of Boston: Low cost legal consultation and representation on a variety of immigrant and refugee issues- including assistance to detainees. Languages: Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese Chinese, English, Haitian Creole, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese- access to commercial interpretation for other languages. Appointment required. Phone: (617) 464-8100  

Community Legal Services and Counseling Center: Free immigration legal services across Massachusetts. Specific legal issues: asylum, victims of domestic violence (VAWA), victims of crime (U-Visas), victims of trafficking (T-Visas), juveniles. In-house languages: English, French, Spanish. Can partner externally for other languages, including Portuguese. Phone: (617) 661-1010  

East Boston Ecumenical Community Council: Low cost ($20) legal immigration assistance. Clients must make an appointment M-F from 9-5. Accept clients from anywhere in Massachusetts. Languages: English, Spanish. Phone: (617) 567-2750  

Greater Boston Legal Services, Immigration Unit: Free legal representation in Immigration Court, at the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in Federal Appeals Court. Priority: unaccompanied minors, victims of domestic violence, people seeking permanent refugee and safe haven status. Languages English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish- access to commercial interpretation for other languages. Phone: (617) 371-1234 CALL BEFORE 1PM. Currently not accepting referrals; recommend calling back in early March (1/30/17).  

Harvard University Law School, Immigration and Refugee Clinic: Free legal representation by Harvard Law students in Immigration Court, at the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in Federal Appeals Court. Languages: Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Spanish. Phone: (617) 384-8165  

Health Law Advocates : Intake through Andrew P. Cohen, Staff Attorney, acohen@hla-inc.org  
Toll Free telephone line (888) 211-6168 
 
Irish International Immigrant Center: The IIIC’s Immigration Legal Services offer comprehensive, professional, and confidential services for non-citizens, regardless of their legal status or ability to pay. Services are available in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole.  Provide free legal clinics throughout the community several times each month. For a 2017 clinic schedule click here. 

MIRA Coalition: The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) is the largest organization in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. The Coalition involves an active membership of over 130 organizations, including community-based groups, social service organizations, ethnic associations, schools, refugee resettlement agencies, health centers, hospitals, religious institutions, unions and law firms, as well as thousands of individual members, contributors, and allies. Referral help is provided in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Phone: (617) 350-5480  
 

Suffolk Law School- Immigration Law Clinic: Free legal representation, primarily for detained immigrants, refugees in Immigration Court, at the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in Federal Appeals Court. Languages: English, Spanish- access to commercial interpretation for other languages. Phone: (617) 573-8100. Currently not accepting new referrals due to capacity (1/30/17).   

Mass Legal Help: A website developed by local legal aid organizations to help individuals find practical information about their legal rights in Massachusetts.    

Victim Rights Center: Free legal representation in Immigration Court for survivors of rape or sexual assault. Languages: English, Spanish- access to commercial interpretation for other languages. Phone: (617) 399-6720 ext. 19  

Regional Organizations

 
In Worcester & Central Massachusetts, American Civil Liberties Union, Contact Chris Robarge, Central Massachusetts Coordinator, phone: (508) 444-2258, email: crobage@aclum.org  

On Cape Cod, Community Action Committee of Cape & Islands’ Immigration Resource Center: Provides free accredited immigration services, citizenship courses, assistance and representation. Phone: (508) 771-1727, ext. 140  

In Springfield, Community Legal Aid, Inc., provides free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents of central and western Massachusetts in multiple languages. On most days, call between 9:30AM and 12:15PM. Phone: (855) 252-5342 

National Organizations

 
Immigration Advocates Network & Immigration Advocates Legal Directory 

* The City is not affiliated with and does not endorse the agencies listed above.

 
 

Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC) 

The Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC) was formed over the summer of 2016 to address the concerns of Cambridge’s immigrant communities, particularly with regard to rights and citizenship. CIRC works to centralize information regarding referrals to, and guidance about, available resources,  offering and providing technical assistance to other public agencies and private persons, organizations and institutions engaged in activities and programs intended to support immigrant rights and citizenship. It will be a goal of this committee to get that message of welcome out, through collaboration with organizations that already provide services and outreach to our immigrant population. By providing information about available services and resources for new immigrants, we can support the efforts of other service providers and reaffirm Cambridge’s commitment to diversity and immigrant welcome. 

Commission on Immigrant Rights & Citizenship 
51 Inman St. 2nd Flr., Cambridge, MA 02139 
(617) 349-4396 
nschlacter@cambridgema.gov  

---

The Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP)

DHSP oversees a number of immigrant-serving programs, including the following: 

Community Learning Center (CLC):  
The Community Learning Center helps adults improve their lives and increase their community participation through free educational programs and services. These services include: English language classes;Classes in basic reading, writing, and math; Preparation for High School Equivalency examinations; Preparation for college [The Bridge Program] or a training program; and Preparation for the U.S. citizenship test. The CLC also offers free educational and career counseling, tutoring, and basic computer instruction.  
 
Community Learning Center 
5 Western Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 
(617) 349-6200 

Community Engagement Team (CET)

The CET, a multi-agency collaborative, reaches out to underserved Cambridge families and connects them to community events and resources, develops community leaders, and supports agencies in working with a diverse community. Some of the major goals for the CET include: Helping Cambridge families become aware of and connected to services and activities that help them thrive and participate in community life; Identifying new grassroots leaders that will help shape community life to benefit underserved communities; Helping Cambridge agencies to be more effective in reaching out to diverse populations and providing them with the support they need to thrive;  Being recognized as a valuable resource that helps shape priorities and policies; A large component of this effort is hiring and training community members (American Born Black, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Ethiopian, Haitian, Somalian, and Spanish and Arabic speaking) as outreach workers to reach out to and engage underserved families in early childhood activities and services. In order to increase Cambridge programs’ knowledge of immigrant and minority communities, Networking Events are held 3 times per year in an effort to share best community engagement practices and to encourage programs to adjust their practices to become more welcoming to diverse communities.  
 
Community Engagement Team 
5 Western Avenue 
Cambridge, MA 02139 

Cambridge Legal Services & Counseling Center (CLSACC)
CLSACC provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling for people with low incomes. Since its inception, it has been sustained by the commitment and dedication of volunteer lawyers and mental health professionals. CLSACC’s services combat the effects of poverty and violence by helping clients and their children meet basic human needs for safety, income, health and housing. CLSACC’s unique interdisciplinary approach has enabled it to keep pace with the ever-changing and interrelated needs of its clients.  

The Immigration Unit at CLSACC handles the following types of cases: 
ASYLUM: Immigrants who have fled their home country because of past persecution or fear of persecution because of race, religion, gender, nationality, social group or political views may be eligible to apply for asylum; CLSACC represents asylum seekers, including torture survivors, victims of gender-based violence, and other special vulnerable populations.  
VAWA: Immigrant victims of domestic violence with certain relationships to United States citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders). See CLSACC’s pamphlet, Immigration Rights for Victims of Domestic Violence, and learn how you can get legal status without help from your battering spouse, parent or adult child.  
U-VISA: Immigrants victims of certain qualifying crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been a victim of that crime and have information concerning the criminal activity. A law enforcement official must certify the victim's participation in the criminal investigation or prosecution of the crime.  
T-VISA: Immigrants who have been victims of human trafficking which is the illegal trade in human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. 
 
Cambridge Legal Services & Counseling Center 
47 Thorndike Street,
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 661-1010 
 
Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services [CASLS] 
For over 40 years, Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services (CASLS) has provided free legal assistance to low income families and individuals residing in Cambridge, Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Woburn, and Winchester. In August of 1996, in the face of deep federal cuts in funding for legal services and severe restrictions on the methods of advocacy and on whom could be served, CASLS merged with Greater Boston Legal Services, Inc. (GBLS). This merger redesigned its legal services delivery system to accommodate these new conditions and helped CASLS to maximize the level and forms of legal assistance available to low income persons in its service area. 
CASLS helps clients in its service area to gain access to some of the most basic necessities of life. This includes: affordable housing; emergency assistance shelter for homeless families; state public benefits including cash assistance (TAFDC, EAEDC); federal public benefits including SSI, SSDI and food stamps; child care vouchers and related non-cash benefits; MassHealth and other medical assistance programs. 
CASLS Immigration Unit provides legal representation and advocates on behalf of low-income immigrants. We prioritize cases of immigrants who are seeking permanent refuge and safe haven, individuals subjected to domestic violence and unaccompanied children. Our goal is to enable our clients to become documented, and ultimately to attain permanent legal status in the United States. CASLS represents prioritized clients and cases before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Department of Justice (including the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and federal courts. We provide immigrant communities and service providers with advice, counsel, brief services and updated information concerning rights and remedies available under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). We provide clinical training for law students and training for advocates in this area of law. We coordinate with local, national and international immigrant rights, civil rights and human rights networks. 
 
Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services 
60 Gore Street, #203 
Cambridge, MA 02141 
(617) 603-2700 
 
Enroot (formerly Cambridge Community Services/City Links) 
Enroot (formerly Cambridge Community Service’s City Links program) is an intensive intervention program for new immigrant youth. The program’s holistic model includes weekly leadership seminars, academic tutoring, one-on-one mentoring, job readiness training, paid internships, and community service. City Links program participants are freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled in the Bi-Lingual/English Language Acquisition (B/ELA) program at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS)- Cambridge’s only public high school. Students reflect the diverse linguistic minority community of Cambridge, representing countries such as Haiti, Brazil, El Salvador, Pakistan, Vietnam, India, Sudan, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Ethiopia. All participants are low-income, and over 50% do not live with their parents. 
City links is composed of two parts: the Mentorship program, where immigrant students at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin school are introduced to mentors and meet with them on a weekly basis; and the Leadership program, which aside from providing students with mentors, academic tutors, and paid internships, CCS also hosts regular career and leadership seminars, and helps students explore service learning opportunities in their community and beyond. 
 
Enroot (formerly Cambridge Community Services, CCS, or City Links) 
99 Bishop Allen Drive 
Cambridge, MA 02139 
(617) 876-5214 
Email: info@enrooteducation.org 
Visit us online at: 
www.enrooteducation.org 
 
Cambridge Economic Opportunity Council (CEOC)   
CEOC was established in 1965 as Cambridge’s designates community action anti-poverty agency. CEOC works to provide individual and family support, advocacy and organizing to empower CEOC participants and community members to have their voices heard by policy makers in setting public policy that directly impacts them. CEOC has fully implemented a participant centered comprehensive bundled service, advocacy and benefits model, which incorporates all CEOC programs and benefit enrollment advocacy for all public benefits.  
CEOC’s services include: public benefits advocacy; free tax prep; financial education and coaching; affordable housing stabilization; food pantry services; and health insurance navigators.  

Cambridge Economic Opportunity Council 
11 Inman Street 
Cambridge, MA 02139 
(617) 868-2900 
 
Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers [MAPS] 
MAPS works to improve the lives of Portuguese-speaking individuals and families from Massachusetts and help them become contributing, active participants in American society while maintaining strong ethnic identity and a sense of community. MAPS works with and for the Brazilian, Cabo Verdean, Portuguese and other Portuguese-speaking communities to increase access and remove barriers to health, education and social services through direct services, advocacy, leadership and community development. MAPS Services include: Citizenship assistance; Domestic violence and sexual assault services; Driver alcohol education; Elder services; ESOL classes; Family support services; HIV/STD prevention and screening; Immigrant integration services; Intimate partner abuse education program; Medical case management; Portuguese language courses; translation; Notary public and Voter registration. MAPS Immigrant integration services include: Information, individual assistance, interpretation/translation and referrals to Portuguese speakers around housing, employment, government benefits and other daily life issues. 
 
Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers 
1046 Cambridge Street 
Cambridge, MA 02139 
(617) 864-7600 
 
Found in Translation
Found in Translation’s mission is to help homeless and low-income multilingual women achieve economic security through the use of their language skills and to reduce ethnic, racial, and linguistic disparities in health care by unleashing bilingual talent into the workforce. Found In Translation’s Language Access Fellowship program includes: Medical Interpreter Certificate training; Apprenticeship; Job placement; and Ongoing professional development. Low-income communities are rich in bilingual talent. Found in Translation identifies promising candidates with limited economic resources and empowers them to succeed in its program and in the interpreting profession. Its program is free of charge and includes common-sense supports such as on-site childcare, transportation assistance, mentoring, career coaching, financial education, job search assistance, and job placement. 
 
Found In Translation 
649 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 6 
Cambridge, MA 02139 
admin@found-in-translation.org 
 
ADBAR (Ethiopian Women’s Alliance)
ADBAR is a 501 (c)(3) grassroots organization established in 1994 by a group of former refugees, immigrants and individuals who wanted to create a safe place for women and their families. ADBAR’s work focuses on problem solving, community building and empowering underserved women. ADBAR’s programs and services include Literacy training, Pre- and post-adoption counseling, Amharic lessons for adoptive parents and travelers, Translation and Interpretation, Job readiness skills, placement and referral, Computer training, Leadership development and a women’s monthly support forum. 

ADBAR Ethiopian Women’s Alliance 
1151 Massachusetts Avenue 
Cambridge, MA 02138 
(617) 234-8981 

Organizations Serving Immigrants in Metro-Boston/Outside Cambridge 

• Asian American Civic Assn. (Chinatown/Boston) 
• Association of Haitian Women (Dorchester) 
• Boston College School of Social Work – Immigrant Integration Lab (Chestnut Hill) 
• Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement (formerly Office of New Bostonians) 
• Brazilian Immigrant Center (Allston) 
• Catholic Charities (Downtown Boston) 
• Centro Presente (Somerville) 
• Haitian Coalition (Somerville) 
• International Institute of New England [IINE] (Downtown Boston) 
• Irish International Immigration Center [IIIC] (Downtown Boston) 
• La Alianza Hispana (Roxbury) 
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition [MIRA] (Downtown Boston) 
• New England Bangladeshi American Foundation, Inc. [NEBAF] (Lynn)
• Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project [PAIR] (Boston)
• Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center [RIAC] (Jamaica Plain)
• South Boston en Accion [SBEA] (South Boston) 
• The Immigrant Learning Center [ILC] (Malden)

* The City is not affiliated with and does not endorse the agencies listed above.

Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition
105 Chauncy Street, Suite 901 Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 350-5480

MIRA is the largest organization in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. We serve the Commonwealth's one million foreign-born residents with policy analysis and advocacy, institutional organizing, training and leadership development, strategic communications, citizenship assistance, and AmeriCorps initiatives that provide capacity-building for community-based organizations.

Multicultural Mental Health Program
Windsor Street Care Center
119 Windsor Street Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 665-3900

The Latino Mental Health Program is a special program for people from Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. Our work covers the fields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, and family therapy. We provide care in a safe and sensitive setting. Our staff speaks Spanish and English.

La Alianza Hispana, Inc.
434 Warren Street Boston MA, 02121