The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and Borough President Scott Stringer have announced a program this Saturday designed to help Haitians who were in the United States illegally before the Jan. 12 earthquake by qualifying them for temporary protective status to enable them to remain and work in the U.S. for 18 months. Lawyers with experience in dealing with immigrants’ problems from the district attorney’s office, the Legal Aid Society, the New York chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and other groups will provide the free advice. They will also provide information about how to avoid imposters who prey on immigrants fearful of deportation.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. stressed that his office does not share with other authorities the immigration status of anyone who seeks out its help. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates there may be as many as 200,000 Haitians in the United States who may be able to qualify for temporary protective status. The program will take place Saturday, Feb. 6, from 2-5 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine’s Synod Hall at 110th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
