OUR HISTORY

The Long Island Immigration Clinic has been an evolving vision of immigration advocates on Long Island for several years, most particularly since 2016, when the arrest and detention of undocumented persons in ICE raids became more prevalent on Long Island. In response, a number of organizations, including members of the LIIC Advisory Board, became involved in creating a Rapid Response Network so to be able to mobilize quickly when these unannounced raids would occur. Volunteers were recruited and trained in Accompaniment work, walking alongside and empowering undocumented immigrants to represent themselves at federal court hearings and other appointments.

In 2020, a small group of Sisters of St. Joseph approached these immigrant rights organizations and individuals about initiating a Pro Se Clinic on Long Island to provide assistance with the completion of asylum applications. In September 2020, an Advisory Board was formed of organizations/individuals
with extensive networks in the immigrant community to begin the groundwork to make this a reality. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood agreed to be LIIC’s fiduciary sponsor and has provided space on its campus as well as the resources for its renovation for the clinic’s operation, additional seed money and other in-kind services.

LIIC is primarily a volunteer driven organization that provides training to the volunteers who will assist

the immigrant friends with their asylum paperwork, and who are overseen by pro bono immigration

attorneys and LIIC staff. Our first cohort of volunteers was trained throughout February 2022 and our clinic nights started shortly after.