What to know about NYC’s support for immigrants:
- MOIA is the The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs which provides support to immigrant New Yorkers.
- MOIA provides legal guidance, language access, and assistance connecting to city services.
- Its status as a NYC agency means it operates independently from federal immigration enforcement. These services are designed to help undocumented New Yorkers.
- You can get in touch with MOIA in a few ways: give them a call, send an email, fill out their online form, or stop by one of their free, multilingual Legal Support Centers around the city.
What is MOIA?
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The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) is a New York City agency, not part of the federal government. That means it operates independently of the Trump administration, national immigration enforcement, and using its services does not expose your immigration status. MOIA is here to support all immigrant New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, and to help them engage fully in the city’s civic, economic, and cultural life.
This includes access to legal help, city services, language support, and other essential resources.
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What does MOIA offer to immigrants?
Immigration legal support centers
MOIA funds over 20 community-based Immigration Legal Support Centers, located in organizations including schools, community centers, and hospitals. These centers provide free, safe, and confidential legal help for:
- Citizenship applications
- Green card processes and renewals
- DACA and Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Finding out if you qualify for any other immigration benefit
To get help, call 800‑354‑0365 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or dial 311 and say “immigration legal”. In many cases, you have to call or email the location first to make an appointment. You can check their locations here.
Language and civic access
This office also supports language access across city agencies and runs English-language learning programs, including the “We Speak NYC” serieswhich teaches English while educating viewers about city and legal rights. You can sign up for free English classes at any of the 60 locations of English Learning Centers or learn more about a convenient online class.
They have a user-friendly roadmap of city services available in over 50 languages for all New Yorkers and lots of information about your rights as an immigrant in NYC.
Event and community support
Need a MOIA representative at a community meeting or event? You can submit a request through their website. They also partner with nonprofits and immigrant-serving groups to spread awareness and deliver services at the local level. According to the MOIA website, a MOIA representative can attend your community event to:
- Share crucial and timely information about citywide developments
- Clarify misinformation about immigration policy developments
- Promote critical resources available to all New Yorkers in the languages they speak,
- Connect individuals with city-funded services and the help they need
- Elevate community feedback to city agencies and stakeholders]
- Build partnerships to address the diverse needs of immigrant communities.
How to access MOIA services
- Call the Immigration Legal Support Hotline: 800‑354‑0365 (or dial 311 and say “immigration legal”).
- Email: AskMOIA@cityhall.nyc.gov or use the contact form at NYC.gov/immigrants.
- You can also visit a Legal Support Center: You can check here their locations which provide services for free and in many languages.
