Bay Ridge councilman reaches out to immigrants

October 19, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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Immigrants needing help navigating governmental bureaucracy in the quest to obtain green cards or other services will now have a new place to turn to in Bay Ridge.

Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Bay Ridge-Dyker Heights-Bensonhurst) is working in cooperation with City University of New York’s Citizenship Now! program to offer free advice on issues relating to naturalization and citizenship.

Starting on Thursday, Nov. 1, and on the first Thursday of every month after that, an attorney from Citizenship Now! will be accepting appointments at Gentile’s district office at 8703 Third Ave. to meet with anyone who needs immigration assistance.

The Citizenship Now! program provides free and confidential immigration law services to help individuals and families on their path to U.S. citizenship, according to Gentile, who said the program’s attorneys offer one-on-one consultations to those seeking help.

“The Citizenship Now! program is one-of-a-kind. It is the only large-scale, university-based volunteer initiative in the entire country providing immigrants with free citizenship application assistance,” Gentile said. “It is a growing community of New Yorkers from all backgrounds who are passionate about immigrants' rights, immigration law, and service to the public and I am proud to host them in my office each month,” he said.

Gentile’s council district has seen a large influx of immigrants in recent years, including newcomers from the Middle East, Asia, and Eastern Europe.

To make an appointment, call Gentile’s office at 718-748-5200.