By Queens DA Richard Brown
“Welcome.”
Translating that one word into the more than 140 languages spoken in the polyglot village that makes up Queens County would fill an entire sheet of paper and is one of the prime reasons why the Queens District Attorney’s Office established an Office of Immigrant Affairs earlier this year to address the unique concerns of immigrants and new Americans as they navigate our legal system. My office recognizes that in this diverse community of Queens, many immigrant victims of crime found it challenging to get help in seeking justice.
The mission of the office is to assist members of the immigrant community, including visitors to Queens who may have fallen victim to crimes, obtain justice within our legal system and to provide support and guidance to those who seek assistance in other areas related to criminal law.
We recognize that it is often more difficult for immigrants to seek and find help when they have become the victim of crime. Language barriers, cultural differences, fear of immigration repercussions, and a distrust of government often leave immigrants feeling helpless when they have been victimized. They should be assured that we are here to guide them through the judicial process and address their concerns.
The office also understands that many immigrants are specifically targeted because they are immigrants and often by people in their own communities. This is known as an affinity fraud, in which a victim puts their trust in somebody who shares a commonality with them, be it language, ethnicity or religion, only to later find out that they have been exploited. It is therefore important for all immigrants to know that, regardless of their status in this country, they are afforded the same rights under New York State law as any other victims, including the right to seek justice when they are victimized by others.
If you or somebody you know believes that they have been a victim of a crime, they should immediately contact the Queens District Attorney’s Office. The Office of Immigrant Affairs deals with all types of crimes, including violent crimes and human trafficking, as well as fraudulent schemes regarding obtaining immigration status, work permits and extortion, to name a few.
To reach the Queens District Attorney’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, call our hotline at (718) 286-6690 from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. At all other times you can leave a message. If you do not speak English, please say the language that you are most comfortable communicating in and then leave a message in that language with your name and telephone number. Someone who speaks your language will return your call. There are presently more than 30 languages spoken by the staff of the office, including English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese, and it employs language lines to assist with other languages. If you prefer, you can also email the QDA Office of Immigrant Affairs at OIA@queensda.org.
Even if you are not a victim of a crime, there are helpful hints you should know that can help prevent you from becoming a potential victim.
For instance, when seeking legal assistance with immigration matters, you should make sure that the person is a license attorney or, if they are working for a non-profit organization, a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative. Please be aware that someone who identifies themselves as a “notario” does not necessarily mean that the person is a licensed attorney in New York State.
In hiring an attorney to represent you, ask for their credentials. For example, what law school did they attend and in what state are they licensed as an attorney.
Get a written contract that spells out what legal services they are actually providing you. Again, for example, help in obtaining a green card, employment papers, permanent residency or citizenship status. Finally, regardless of how you pay for the person’s services, always ask for a receipt, though it is wise to pay with a check, a money order or credit card. Be wary if the individual insists on cash.
As a final point, Queens residents should be aware that the Queens District Attorney’s Office is a certifying agency for the Form I-918 Supplemental B, U-Non-Immigration Status, also known as a U Visa application. The office will certify a U Visa for people who have been victims of crimes in Queens. To qualify for our certification, the victim must be fully cooperative in the prosecution of a case handled by the Queens County District Attorney’s Office.
By District Attorney Richard Brown
