COVID-19 Information and Updates

As you know, we are all facing a difficult public health situation, the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It is an unsettling time for all, but Immigration Equality are staying up-to-date with city, state, and federal guidelines. We are doing everything possible to protect our clients and staff.

Please note that the Immigration Equality staff is fielding a large number of calls and emails during this uncertain time. We are doing our best to answer your inquiries promptly, but given the volume of requests our responses may be delayed.

Our staff is working remotely, but our phone lines are operating as usual here—

Hotline for people calling from detention only: 917-654-9696, open 9:30am-5:30pm Monday through Thursday

For general inquiries: 212-714-2904

Client meetings will take place over the phone instead of at the office, and according to our existing policy, walk-ins are still not accepted.

If you or your client has an upcoming hearing, check-in, or interview, we encourage you to contact the office responsible for your client’s next appearance to determine their scheduling policy. Many ICE check-ins and court appearances have already been cancelled and are being rescheduled. We have included some helpful information below.

For immigration court information, you can contact the EOIR hotline or the clerks’ office for a particular court for more information. The hotline number is 1-800-898-7180. Please see the list here of EOIR offices nationwide and their contact numbers https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-immigration-court-listing. You can also view your case status on the EOIR portal: https://portal.eoir.justice.gov/InfoSystem/Form?Language=EN.
If you or your client is sick, immunocompromised, living with HIV, or has other health concerns, you can write to the respective asylum office to ask for the interview to be rescheduled as soon as possible. You can find your client’s asylum office and contact information here: https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asy.
You can find USCIS’ rescheduling policy here: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/if-you-feel-sick-please-consider-canceling-and-rescheduling-your-uscis-appointment

Below are other helpful links so that you can keep up to date on COVID-19-related policy changes and closures at ICE, the Immigration Courts and USCIS:

ICE

ERO Guidance on COVID-19: https://www.ice.gov/covid19

ERO contact information: https://www.ice.gov/contact/ero

Immigration Courts

EOIR updates regarding COVID-19: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-operational-status-during-coronavirus-pandemic

EOIR scheduling and closures: https://twitter.com/doj_eoir?lang=en

EOIR contact information: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-immigration-court-listing

USCIS

USCIS Response to COVID-19: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

USCIS Office Closings: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

USCIS rescheduling policy: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/if-you-feel-sick-please-consider-canceling-and-rescheduling-your-uscis-appointment

USCIS Office locator: https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asy.