Office of Migration



About the Catholic Migration Office (CMO)

Founded in 1971 in response to Pope Paul VI’s call for the care of immigrants, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic Migration Office now welcomes thousands of immigrants each year. Since its inception, the office has served immigrants from at least 167 countries who, collectively, speak more than 80 languages.

Our programs are open to immigrants of all faiths and are considered by our clients to be respectful, dignified, safe, and professional. With no money ever spent on advertising, the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have come through our doors have done so at the suggestion of others who were well served by the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Migration Office (CMO) provides non-profit legal services and counseling to immigrants in the following practice areas: immigration, housing and employment.

Our office has gained widespread recognition for comprehensive immigration legal services including representation of asylum seekers, human trafficking victims, and victims of domestic violence.  In the area of housing litigation, our work to protect the rights of immigrant tenants and preserve affordable housing has resulted in notable legal and community organizing victories which have been featured in major media outlets.  Our immigrant workers’ rights project focuses on wage and overtime violations and unsafe working conditions. Linea Laboral, a toll free bilingual workers’ rights hotline, is operated by CMO in collaboration with the Mexican Consulate General in New York, the U.S. Department of Labor and the New York State Department of Labor.

CMO also provides non-profit educational and pastoral services to immigrants and immigrant communities throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Read on about our history, ask a question, view the photo gallery, and take a look at our frequently asked questions about our services.


Contact Us

Brooklyn Office
1258 65th Street

Brooklyn, NY 11219
(718) 236-3000

Queens Office
47-01 Queens Boulevard
Suite 201
Woodside, NY 11104
(347) 472-3500

For questions or assistance regarding workers’ rights issues, please call our toll free hotline at 1-877-52-LABOR (52267).


 

FAQs

How do you get a green card?
The law changes often; please contact our office at (718) 236-3000 for the current requirements.

Do you have to be Catholic to use your services?
Not at all. We’re called the “Catholic Migration Office,” because we’re Catholic. We welcome Christ in all of our neighbors, Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

What is the difference between a refugee and an immigrant?
A refugee leaves his or her own country because of persecution and seeks asylum in the United States. An immigrant voluntarily leaves his or her native country to make a new start in the United States, not because of persecution but for many other reasons. An immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, but a refugee wants to return home when the political situation improves.