Catholic Charities of New York says hundreds of New Yorkers have been referred to the Staff Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez NYS Military Immigrant Family Legacy Program since the organization began working with New York’s Office for New Americans in May 2025.
The program uses the New Americans Hotline to identify callers who are active service members, veterans or military family members and direct them to immigration-related help. Catholic Charities says callers may receive referrals for citizenship and other immigration matters, while more complex cases go to the Volunteer Lawyers Project. The state’s Department of State lists the hotline as available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The program became law in 2024, according to Catholic Charities. New York’s Veterans’ Services Law places it within the Office for New Americans and establishes support for service members and their families with immigration and related needs. Lisa Flores of Catholic Charities said about 50,000 active-duty service members are not U.S. citizens.
Federal enforcement claims and reported detentions
The Associated Press reported that more than 50 spouses and parents of active-duty service members had been detained in an immigration crackdown. Separately, Representative Chrissy Houlahan’s office said information obtained from the Department of Homeland Security showed attempts to deport hundreds of veterans and family members. That office and Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office also said the data included cases involving people who had applied for Military Parole in Place, a benefit intended to let certain spouses, parents and children of service members remain in the country while seeking permanent legal status. The AP report, Houlahan’s office and Warren’s office published those accounts.
The Times Union reported that advocates say some families weigh the potential protections of parole in place against concern that applying could attract immigration-enforcement attention. That concern remains unresolved.
