The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) announced the expansion of the New Americans Hotline (1-800-566-7636), which will now serve callers on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Eastern Time).
The local community is reminded that this line will also continue to operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (Eastern Time).
The New Americans Hotline, administered by Catholic Charities Community Services of the Archdiocese of New York, thanks to a grant from ONA, is a vital resource for all New Yorkers seeking information and referrals to free immigration-related services.
The hotline is staffed by multilingual operators and a full-time immigration attorney.
“New York State has long been committed to making newcomers feel welcome and supported. “The expansion of the New American Hotline includes longer weekday hours and more weekend hours, reinforcing our commitment at a time when immigrant families face so much fear and uncertainty,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley.
“This expanded access reflects Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to protect the constitutional rights of New Yorkers, including immigrants, and ensures that our state remains a place where all families can feel informed and supported. As a reminder to all New Yorkers seeking assistance: the ONA hotline is 100% free, anonymous, and available in more than 200 languages.”
Help people in immigration detention
All information provided by the hotline 1-800-566-7636 is free and anonymous. Support is available in more than 200 languages. Hotline representatives can help refer people in immigration detention seeking free legal services.
The hotline can also provide information about available community workshops and trainings, including “Know Your Rights” and family preparedness.
Callers to the hotline can also report cases of immigration fraud. Since January 2025, the hotline has responded to 21,159 calls and made 42,207 referrals.
Additionally, the New York State Thruway Authority will post information about expanded hotline hours in all 27 service areas of the New York State Thruway system. Bilingual information in English and Spanish has already begun for visitors using statewide service areas.
“For more than 16 years, Catholic Charities of New York has provided reliable information and trusted referrals to immigrant communities through our long-standing collaboration with the State of New York and the Office for New Americans (ONA) Hotline,” said J. Antonio Fernández, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York.
“Based on Catholic Social Teaching, particularly the call to defend the dignity of every human person and to welcome the stranger, this work reflects our ongoing commitment to serving those seeking guidance, opportunity and stability.”
«The ONA Hotline is a free and confidential service, available in more than 200 languages, that connects individuals and families with English learning, community resources and legal referrals. Starting January 1, 2026, we expanded our opening hours to include weekends, reaffirming our commitment to providing greater access and support to newcomers.”
“In the current heated political climate, marked by changes in immigration policies, increased fear of authorities and widespread misinformation, expanding the New American Hotline to weekend hours is a critical step in providing immigrant communities throughout New York with the tools necessary to access reliable information,” said Hispanic Federation President and CEO Frankie Miranda.
“We applaud Governor Hochul and the Office for New Americans for recognizing that our immigrant neighbors need options for reliable information at more times of the week. “We appreciate the staff who took the time to answer our community’s questions over the weekend, and we will continue working to ensure that all New Yorkers can access the services and information they deserve.”
Assistance for any immigrant
The New American Hotline has been key to the work of New York State ONA since its creation in 2012. ONA and its statewide network of community providers offer assistance to any immigrant in New York State, regardless of immigration status.
ONA offers programs in areas such as immigration legal services, English language learning, mental health support, and workforce development. The best way to connect with all ONA programs, as well as resources from other state partners, is to call the New Americans Hotline at 1-800-566-7636.
In addition to the hotline, it has also expanded the resources available on its website to include a dedicated “Know Your Rights, Know Your Resources” page at: https://dos.ny.gov/know-your-rights.
Through initiatives like the New American Hotline and our Know Your Resources website, ONA is committed to ensuring that immigrant New Yorkers and their families have access to the most up-to-date, relevant and important information they need to feel empowered and protected.
The ONA website also includes a link to the state Attorney General’s Office so people can report information about the federal government’s actions in their communities. The New York State Office for New Americans is the first statutory immigration services office in the country.
ONA helps all new Americans access and navigate a variety of free services and supports through its statewide network of community providers. For more information, visit https://dos.ny.gov/office-new-americans or follow ONA on Twitter/X at @NYSNewAmericans or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NYSNewAmericans.
