Immigration Support Services
There is probably no city in the United States as deeply impacted by immigration issues as our own city of New York. At Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C., we know that New York’s traditional role as an entry point for immigrants from all over the world has shaped its growth and character.
That character continues to evolve as our city is now experiencing what may be the greatest increase in immigration in our history. Some estimates are that immigrants and their children make up as much as 60 percent of the Big Apple’s population.
The immigrant population faces a variety of issues. Some are a traditional part of immigrating to a new country, while others are a result of the complications of current events. Recent economic issues have made the already difficult situation of many immigrants more untenable.
- English Language Literacy. It can take decades for an immigrant to truly feel at home with the English language, and it is a goal that some never achieve.
- Access to Health Care. While New York State offers a variety of health care benefits to any resident unable to afford their own insurance, many immigrants may not be aware of their eligibility due to their lack of English literacy. Non-citizen New Yorkers are three times more likely not to have health insurance than citizens.
- Housing. Due to language issues and the disproportionate number of low wage earners among recent and illegal immigrants, many immigrants in New York face problems with their housing options.
- Civil Rights and Liberties. Probably the greatest threat to the civil rights and liberties of immigrants in the U.S. is human trafficking. Victims are often immigrants who are forced, coerced or tricked into providing forced labor or commercial sex acts. The U.S. Department of State estimates that up to 17,500 men, women and children are trafficked into the U.S. every year. The victims are most commonly from Asia, Central and South America and Eastern Europe. Many times these people do not speak or understand English, which isolates them from law enforcement and other service providers who might otherwise be able to help them.
Additional Resources: Immigrant Support Services
