18 Filipino migrant workers secured free legal consultations with partner attorneys!

Taking the first steps in fighting for your labor or immigration rights can be difficult. However, the August 10th Damayan Legal Clinic at the People’s Forum helped ease this process by empowering 18 Filipino migrant workers to take these brave steps. Domestic workers, elderly, and low-wage workers received a free consultation with attorneys from Catholic Migration Services (CMS), Take Root Justice (TRJ), and the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG).

Damayan was excited to introduce our members to Dawn Arce-Rodriquez, our new Lead Case Manager, who facilitated the day’s program and detailed Damayan’s new Case Agreement and process. Damayan ensured our workers understood their legal rights and our case process. In addition, through the support of the New York Mayor’s Office Of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), Lydia, our Senior Organizer, equipped attendees with their labor and immigration rights, while also sharing reminders of how to stay safe when interacting with Immigration Customs Enforcement (I.C.E). and how to assert their rights from labor discrimination and violations from their employers. 

There continue to be gaps in the immigration, labor, and healthcare system. While Damayan holds to our mission to organize and empower Filipino migrant workers to fight for their labor and immigration rights and develop them into social justice leaders, we cannot do so without first understanding our community’s immediate needs. Damayan provides legal assistance, Know Your Rights training, and free health screenings because we know that services are not readily accessible to the community, especially when most of our members are undocumented. Our community members have the right to free healthcare and work free of discrimination and violations regardless of their age and immigration status. 

Please join us for our next Free Health Screening on Saturday, August 24, from 10-2pm in front of Amazing Grace (69 St and Roosevelt Ave). Pls join us and rsvp at damayanmigrants.org/2024-824