Upstate New York Immigration Resources

Disclaimer: This page is intended to help answer common questions regarding immigration to the United States by providing introductory resources.  This page does not provide legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship.  We strongly suggest consulting with an attorney regarding any of these questions or issues.

Upstate New York Resources:

These links provide information for individuals and entities in upstate New York. They focus on legal representation but some include resources on education, housing, and other areas. Specifically, these resources focus in and around the metropolitan areas of Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo.

• The Cornell Farmworker Program organizes a directory of English and Spanish resources for migrants, farmworkers, and immigrants organized by county

• The Cornell Farmworker Program also offers resources for housing, banking, legal services, education, job training, and health and other services

• The Upstate Immigration Project of the Legal Aid Society (click on "Immigration Program") provides legal representation, advice, and information for individuals seeking refuge, a change in immigration status, to avoid deportation, or assistance against discrimination due to immigration status.  Through its regional offices, the Legal Aid Society assists individuals in 47 of New York's 62 counties

• The Department of Justice's New York Free Legal Service Providers List is updated regularly, and is organized by immigration court and by the types of individuals and/or claims each provider will represent

• Legal Assistance of Western New York provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income, low-asset individuals who are U.S. Citizens or have a U.S. citizen in the household.  They provide services to 14 counties in western New York, including:  Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates Counties through its regional offices

Ithaca Area:

• The Cornell Farmworker Program conducts on-farm workshops in Spanish and English on immigrant rights and emergency planning.  The program also maintains a printable guide to immigration-related services in Tompkins county, including education, English language, and legal services

• Cornell Law School provides free legal representation through its clinical programs, including:

  • Advocacy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Communities Clinic;

  • Asylum and Convention Against Torture Appellate Clinic;

  • Farmworker Legal Assistance Clinic; and

  • Legal Research Clinic for all other matters

• The Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga has an Immigrant Services Program that offers legal immigration and support services to the Tompkins County's immigrant community

• Legal Assistance of Western New York provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income, low-asset individuals who are U.S. Citizens or have a U.S. citizen in the household to individuals in Tompkins County through its local Ithaca office

• Both Ithaca and Tompkins County are sanctuaries.  While the definition of "sanctuary city" and "sanctuary county" varies widely, this may slow or otherwise alter the way agencies enforce or gather information about the immigration status of residents.

Rochester Area:

• The Cornell Farmworker Program maintains a printable guide to immigration-related services in Monroe County, including education services.

• Legal Assistance of Western New York provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income, low-asset individuals who are U.S. Citizens or have a U.S. citizen in the household to individuals in Monroe County through its local Rochester office

• Rochester is a sanctuary city.  While the definition of "sanctuary city" varies widely, this may slow or otherwise alter the way agencies enforce or gather information about the immigration status of residents.

Syracuse Area:

• The Cornell Farmworker Program maintains a printable guide to immigration-related services in Onondaga county, including housing, education, and legal services

• Syracuse is a sanctuary city.  While the definition of "sanctuary city" varies widely, this may slow or otherwise alter the way agencies enforce or gather information about the immigration status of residents.

Buffalo Area:

• The Department of Justice's New York Free Legal Service Providers List contains a list of lawyers and legal service organizations who will represent many individuals for free in Buffalo Immigration Court