NYC Launches Multilingual Campaign for Free Immigration Legal Hotline
Jackson Heights, Queens — A vibrant and bustling neighborhood often referred to as the cultural heart of South Asian immigrants in New York City.
The city’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has launched a monthlong advertising campaign to promote its free, confidential Immigration Legal Support Hotline, aiming to connect New Yorkers with trusted legal help in their preferred language.
The $300,000 campaign, funded by the New York City Council in fiscal year 2026, will appear in print, radio and digital formats and will reach residents in 17 languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Pulaar, Tibetan, Tagalog, Nepali, Kichwa, Soninke, Arabic, Punjabi, French, Haitian Creole, Urdu, Wolof and Min Nan, according to the release.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the effort is designed to make sure immigrant New Yorkers know where to turn for help, regardless of immigration status.
“New York City speaks hundreds of languages, and every one of them belongs here,” Mamdani said. “Our Immigration Legal Support Hotline connects New Yorkers to free, confidential legal help in the language they speak and trust, regardless of their immigration status.”
MOIA Commissioner Faiza N. Ali said the campaign comes at a critical time for immigrant communities and is intended to broaden access to legal support across the five boroughs.
“During this critical moment when New Yorkers are facing a challenging and evolving immigration enforcement landscape, our city is making clear that immigrant communities have access to resources and support,” Ali said. “Through this multi-faceted and comprehensive ad campaign, funded by our partners at the New York City Council, we are proud to expand access to our Immigration Legal Support Hotline across the five boroughs.”
Printed and radio ads will run in community and ethnic media outlets, while digital ads will appear on social media platforms. MOIA’s outreach team also will distribute multilingual posters in neighborhoods across the city throughout August.
The hotline is available to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, at 1-800-354-0365 or by calling 311 and saying “Immigration Legal,” according to the release.
The hotline operates Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the last Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Deputy Whip Elsie Encarnación said the hotline could help immigrant families overcome fear and misinformation that keep them from seeking legal assistance.
“For too many immigrant families, fear and lack of information keeps them from seeking the legal help they need and deserve,” Encarnación said. “MOIA’s new hotline is an important step in changing that reality.”
Council Member Alexa Avilés also praised the campaign and said the city should continue investing in immigrant legal support programs.
“New York City is proud to deliver free legal support in the languages New Yorkers speak,” Avilés said. “We urge New Yorkers to use MOIA’s new hotline to get the confidential and safe support they need.”