NEW YORK (TIP) : New York City’s new Indian American Commissioner Nisha Agarwal has rolled out a special series of engagements with the immigrant community clearly taking the biggest issue of her office bulls on.
After assuming office in February, 2015 she, along with her team, started with Mayor de Blassio’s Municipal ID Card Program which is open to all NYC residents regardless of immigration status. The Program has already seen applications in excess of a 100,000 and is growing . More centers for application processing are being set up to speed up the process and reduce delays, said Commissioner Nisha Agarwal.
Commissioner Agarwal has also launched a special initiative to providing Free Legal screening by trusted immigration attorneys and Non-Profit Law firms.
Commissioner Agarwal at a press briefing, April 2, held at the Centre for Community & Ethnic Media of CUNY Graduate School of Journalism started by saying that they will do everything possible for the over 200,000 illegal immigrants in New York City. She further stated that Obama’s Immigration reform, if approved, will help millions of immigrants get legal status in the United States. She laid special emphasis on reducing and checking Immigration Fraud and how her office is getting the City ready with good legal support for them.
Commissioner Agarwal announced a Special Free Screening by trusted attorneys on the12th April where anyone can come and explore his/her case on getting legal status in the United States. The Screening is planned at the Jewish Temple – Emanu-EL in upper East side (1st East 65th Street) for the 12th April between 11am to 5pm.
Registration is free and to schedule appointments anyone can register by calling 212 419 3700
A guidebook to City , State and Federal laws -Immigrant Rights and Services Manual- in 6 Languages has been prepared to remove the language barrier for the benefit of immigrants.