COVID-19 Immigration Resource Information
See below to find out relevant information and resources related to Immigration.
Immigration
The Northeast Justice Center’s Immigration Unit is offering consultations to immigrant survivors of domestic violence, victims of serious crimes, children and youth, as well as others who have fled their home countries due to persecution.
If you are an immigrant survivor of domestic violence, please call us directly at (978) 458-1465 through our central intake staff to schedule a consult. You can request assistance by filling a form online: Click here (English Form). Solicitar Servicios Legales (Spanish Form)
If you are an immigrant victim of a serious crime, or if you are an immigrant child/youth or if you have fled your country of origin due to persecution, please contact our partner – Justice For Our Neighbors at 617-794-7024 (call or text); jfonlawlowclinic@gmail.com
The Justice Center will also be available to assist individuals who are detained and whose age or medical condition puts them at increased risk of harm by COVID 19. Please contact Ethan Horowitz for more information: 978-888-0624; ehorowitz@njc-ma.org
Additional important updates:
Boston Immigration Court: non-detained hearings in the Boston Immigration court resumed. Hearings that were postponed due to COVID-19 will be rescheduled and hearing notices are being sent out to notify attorneys and respondents of the new hearing dates. You can check here to verify if you have an upcoming court hearing, or call the Automated Case Information Hotline at 1-800-898-7180.
The Court has also implemented Public Health safety measures, which can be found here (Translations).
EOIR continues to support remote hearings using the Openvoice and Webex platforms. More information concerning appearances available via Openvoice and Webex is posted on EOIR’s website.
Unrepresented respondents in non-detained cases who wish to appear by Openvoice or Webex should contact the immigration court for instructions.
Always check here for your local court’s operating status. You may also register to receive email notifications of updates to EOIR’s operational status via a link on that webpage. Please note that the most up-to-date information on specific court closures or procedures are announced via the FOIR Twitter account at https://twitter.com/DOJ_EOIR.
DETAINED hearings are still taking place, hearings were switched to being on the phone.
Probate & Family Court: courthouses physically reopened in accordance with safety protocols, but will continue to conduct some business virtually. Use of masks and social distancing continues. For information and news on Massachusetts state court response to the pandemic, please see Court system response to COVID-19.
Federal District Courts: cases continue to be processed as usual and all filing happens electronically, including petitions for writ of habeas corpus. In Massachusetts, most of these cases don’t require a live hearing and case management conferences can be done on the phone. In New Hampshire, hearings are held over videoconference.
Both Massachusetts and New Hampshire federal courts have issued standing orders limiting in-person hearings and spelling out the procedures for teleconference hearings.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):
USCIS field offices and asylum offices have resumed face-to-face non-emergency services to the public. The USCIS website includes detailed instructions on precautions that individuals attending in-person appointments must follow: precautions to follow. Please see the USCIS Response to COVID-19 for complete information.
USCIS has also announced additional response times for most Requests or Notices issued between March 1, 2020 and July 25, 2022; responses submitted within 60 calendar days of the initial response deadline set forth in the request or notice will be considered by USCIS. Furthermore, an appeal of a USCIS denial (Form I-290B) will be considered timely if it is filed within 60 calendar days from the date the decision was issued.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ice)
ICE is updating their website. Individuals scheduled for ICE check-ins are directed to contact their local field office for guidance prior to their scheduled appointment at: 1-781-359-7500 or by email at ICEBostonReporting@ice.dhs.gov
Know Your Rights During The Coronavirus Pandemic
The spread of Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has changed daily life for millions of people across the United States.
USCIS does not consider vaccines or public benefits specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic when making public charge determinations. USCIS encourages everyone, including noncitizens, to seek necessary medical care, including treatment or preventive services for COVID-19. Noncitizens may seek pandemic-related benefits and services (including food assistance, housing programs, and others) for which they are eligible—without fear of negative consequences to their immigration status. See the USCIS Q&A for more information.
This guide, created by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, offers information to refugees, asylum seekers, asylees and other immigrants about the rights you have during this uncertain time.
These documents are available in 7 different languages and cover a range of issues in relation to housing, employment, safety and healthcare.
arabic - know your rights during the coronavirus pandemic
English - know your rights during the coronavirus pandemic
farsi - know your rights during the coronavirus pandemic
french - know your rights during the coronavirus pandemic
russian - know your rights during the coronavirus pandemic
spanish - know your rights during the coronavirus pandemic
swahili - know your rights during the coronavirus pandemic
Immigration Resources
Comprehensive information on COVID 19 in 57 languages
Information from our friends at Lawyers for Civil Rights on issues related to rights and resources regarding health care, employment, immigration, food security, driver licenses, and other issues.
Information from USCIS about Public Charge for immigration purposes.
Food and Cash Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants During COVID-19: English, Spanish