ICE in New York: Immigrants Urged to Call Legal Help Line

New York City’s Mayor’s Office launched a campaign urging immigrants to call the legal assistance line on immigration matters amid increased ICE operations. The line, managed by the Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), offers confidential information in 17 languages and connects callers with attorneys, though it does not guarantee free legal representation. During fiscal year 2026, the line received 24,000 calls, with a notable increase in July 2026.

The initiative seeks to counter fear and lack of access to legal advice in immigrant communities. The campaign costs $300,000 and will be distributed through media and neighborhoods across the city’s five boroughs.

What Does New York’s Legal Help Line Offer?

The immigration legal assistance line is a free and confidential city service. It is managed by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, known as MOIA.

The service provides information in 17 languages, including Spanish. It also connects callers with trusted immigration legal service providers, according to a MOIA official. The official number is 1 (800) 354-0365. Callers can also dial 311 and request immigration advice.

The line operates Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, it operates from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on the last Saturday of each month, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized that the line connects New Yorkers with legal help that is «free, safe, and confidential.» However, a MOIA official clarified that the service does not guarantee a free attorney for each case.

Why Is the Urgency to Use This Service Increasing?

ICE operations in New York have increased as part of President Donald Trump’s agenda. The federal objective is to arrest and deport thousands of undocumented immigrants or those with indefinite status.

The scope of operations includes asylum seekers, former beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status, known as TPS, and even people in the process of adjusting status to obtain a green card. This situation has increased fear in immigrant communities.

According to city data, the line received 24,000 calls during fiscal year 2026, between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. In July 2026 alone, 3,325 calls were recorded, averaging 110 calls daily.

Faiza N. Ali, commissioner of MOIA, stated that the service has become a «lifeline» for thousands of New Yorkers. «At this critical moment, when New Yorkers face a challenging and changing immigration enforcement landscape, our city makes clear that immigrant communities have access to resources and support,» Ali said.

What Limitations Does the Help Line Have?

Although the line offers reliable information and connections with legal providers, it does not guarantee free representation. A MOIA official confirmed to El Diario NY that the service answers questions and connects callers with trusted attorneys, but the prospect of free attorneys is «another story.»

Germán Ordoñez, a Colombian who has lived in New York for 17 years, called the line and received general responses. «I think the City should invest more in free attorneys and not just information,» Ordoñez said. «It’s a line that serves those who don’t read newspapers or watch media.»