Immigration and Legal Resources
Mexican Consulate
The Mexican Consulate is a great place to start for any issues you may be facing as a Mexican citizen in the United States. They provide many services including documentation, civil registry, and notary services, as well as other programs and protections. Find out more on their website HERE or download the app for iPhone or Android.
Casa de la Cultura: Immigration Support/Advocacy
What they offer: events immigration lawyers, Family Preparedness Plans, referrals to lawyers- FREE
Send your questions to casagettysburg@gmail.com or send a message on Facebook or Instagram
Franklin County Legal Services
What they offer: Free legal services to low-income clients including: direct representation cases related to family (such as custody), immigration, tenant/landlord issues, and other civil issues; legal advice; referrals to other pro-bono lawyers; services to the incarcerated; Citizenship test prep classes; education (such as Know Your Rights) and more
How to start: visit their website, select a date/time when you will be available for a screening with their team. At the day/time that you select, you should plan to be available to answer your phone during the full time slot and plan to be in a place where you feel comfortable discussing your case
Address: 336 Lincoln Way East, Suite B, Chambersburg, PA
Click this link to apply or call 717-262-2326
PIRC
What they offer: Access to justice by direct representation, referrals to other pro bono services, and pro se assistance. Cases include: Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Removal hearings, T visas, U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Special support for victims of domestic violence can be found here
How to start: call 717-600-8099 to be directed to appropriate services
Address: 294 Pleasant Acres Rd., Ste. 202, York, PA
Legal Services in Harrisburg
International Service Center- Immigration Services
Areas of Assistance: Adjustment of status, asylum applications, consular processing, employment authorization, employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant petitions, family-based petitions, Naturalization/Citizenship, removal hearings, T visas, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Location: 21 S. River St., Harrisburg, PA | Contact: 717-236-9401 or visit here
Community Justice Project (Harrisburg)
Areas of Assistance: employment authorization, naturalization/citizenship, T visas, U visas, VAWA petitions
Location: 118 Locust St. Harrisburg, PA | Contact: 800-322-7572 ext. 211 or visit here
Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services
Areas of Assistance: Adjustment of Status, Asylum applications, Consular Processing, Employment authorization, Employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant petitions, Family-based petitions, Habeas Corpus, NACARA, Naturalization/Citizenship, Removal hearings, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, T visas, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), U visas, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petitions, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Location: 939 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA | Contact: 717-232-0568 or visit here
CASA: Know Your Rights
Information about your rights in the United States HERE from information from CASA about your rights when ICE is at your home or workplace or HERE for information from the Mexican Consulate about traffic stops and being detained.
Unlike most criminal cases, the federal government will not provide you with an attorney for the immigration court. However, there are some organizations that help some people with immigration cases and there are private attorneys who offer you representation for a fee. Contact your CASA office for information on these organizations and lawyers. The CASA number is 301-431-4185
Public Charge
“Public Charge” makes people afraid to use public benefits, but the rule does not affect every immigrant application. Most immigrants who face the Public Charge test don’t qualify for public benefits, but talk to a qualified lawyer if you have questions about your case. This website is from California, but it has good information about public charge.
Here is a guide that can help you to understand your case and Public Charge
PA Farmworker Project
What they offer: Legal support for low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers in PA with cases relating to employment; this project is a part of Philadelphia Legal Assistance
How to start: Call the hotline at 888-541-1544 to start the intake process
Address: 718 Arch St. #300, Philadelphia, PA
CWS: Immigration Legal Services
What they offer: free citizenship consultation, help with application preparation — free in some cases — low-cost legal advice and representation to refugees, asylum-seekers, and other immigrants in central PA
Call 717-358-9728 to start. They speak Spanish and have access to telephonic interpretation for other languages.
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5pm
Address: 308 E. King St., Lancaster, PA
PICC: PA Immigration and Citizenship Coalition
What they do: Lead and support campaigns to advance immigrant rights at the local, state, and federal levels; supports voter registration and education; helps increase access to immigration services through the PA is Ready! project.
Location: 2100 Arch St., 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA
Email: admin@paimmigrant.org | Event calendar
Mediation Services of Adams County
What they offer: Guided mediation through family issues, landlord-tenant problems, property issues, and more
Call 717-334-7312 to start or visit their website for more information