Brooklyn Public Library Announces Two New Programs To Provide Immigrants Greater Access to Free Citizenship & Legal Services
'Prepare for Citizenship' Program and Immigrant Justice Corps Fellows Greatly Improve Access to Immigrant Legal Services in Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced today two multi-year initiatives to provide immigrants in the borough greater access to free U.S. citizenship and legal services.
The first, a program called Prepare for Citizenship, will provide ESOL learners with formal, 11-week citizenship courses at the Canarsie, Flatbush, Sunset Park and Kensington libraries. Operated in partnership with Catholic Migration Services (CMS) and through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the classes will prepare students for both the English and Civics portion of the Citizenship test and provide free legal assistance. Interested students should sign up to attend a registration session. Please visit the BPL website for information about upcoming registrations. For more information on accessing free naturalization legal services form please visit the CMS website here.
Brooklyn Public Library will simultaneously welcome two new Immigrant Justice Corps Community Fellows, to help provide critical legal assistance to low-income immigrants throughout the borough. BPL was one of five organizations across New York City to be awarded IJC Community Fellows this year; they will begin formally offering services later this month.
The IJC Fellows will work full-time to counsel low-income immigrants at BPL branches throughout Brooklyn. They will help immigrants file applications for citizenship, DACA, green cards and other benefits, and will make referrals to attorneys for more complex cases. The fellows will hold office hours at select branches; schedules and information about services can be found here.
Taken together, these two programs represent a significant new legal and educational support network in Brooklyn for those looking to earn their citizenship to the United States.
"Brooklyn Public Library serves a diverse and multiethnic borough and is a critical resource for immigrant communities, which too often face barriers accessing information and assistance," said Linda E. Johnson, President & CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. "We thank all those who made these programs possible, including Catholic Migration Services, the USCIS, and the Immigrant Justice Corps. It is a privilege for the Library to support New Yorkers on their paths to citizenship."
"Our City libraries remain an indispensable part of the vitality, and the resiliency of our communities—particularly those made up primarily of low-income and immigrant residents. The program line-up in BPL’s Immigrant Services Initiative includes many of the resources our communities so desperately need, and represent sensitivity on behalf of Brooklyn Public Library to the many issues facing immigrant populations in Brooklyn including access to legal services, and citizenship education", said Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Chair of the New York City Council Committee on Immigration.
“There are nearly are nearly 700,000 immigrants in New York who are one step away from becoming U.S. Citizens, and many of them haven’t done so because of cost, fear of a cumbersome process, or access to legal counsel,” said Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Nisha Agarwal. “Our libraries have long acted as a safe and accessible hub for immigrants. By providing legal services, the Brooklyn Public Library is taking a smart and innovative approach that will benefit not just our immigrant communities, but our City as a whole.”
“Our innovative partnership with Brooklyn Public Library has been critical in helping us provide citizenship services to the immigrant community,” said Matthew Burnett, Director of the Immigration Advocates Network. “Each month, BPL dedicates space and technology resources to host a naturalization workshop using our award-winning CitizenshipWorks software platform, where applicants can complete their naturalization application online and receive legal assistance on the spot. Together we are defining the future of technology-enabled, empowerment-focused legal services for immigrants in New York City.”
“Brooklyn Public Library was a natural fit to host Immigrant Justice Corps’ first class of Community Fellows,” said Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director of Immigrant Justice Corps. “We look forward to serving Brooklynites through BPL, which the newest New Yorkers already know and trust.”
Brooklyn Public Library offers a variety of services for immigrants and individuals for whom English is a second language year round, including Diversity Visa lottery assistance, advanced business English conversation classes to prepare immigrant professionals for success in the workplace, as well as English conversation groups at 23 libraries.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynlibrary.org.