Creating Pathways to Stability and Security.
The Rian Immigrant Center’s expert legal staff and pro bono attorneys offer free legal consultations to over 2,000 immigrants, refugees, and asylees, and provide full case representation before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other federal agencies and courts for approximately 800 individuals every year. Through legal representation and guidance, we strive to equip low-income and underserved immigrants with the resources necessary to attain legal status, protect themselves from deportation, secure work authorization, and reunite with their families. By doing so, we aim to facilitate their journey towards long-term stability. We also assist eligible immigrants in becoming U.S. citizens, guiding them throughout the application process and representing those with complex cases.
Who We Are
Our team of attorneys and paralegals offer comprehensive, professional, and confidential services for non-citizens across Massachusetts, regardless of their legal status or ability to pay. Our services are offered in a variety of languages, including English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and French.
Through special projects, we work with people who are most at-risk. We support survivors of domestic violence, those battling medical emergencies, the unhoused and those with insecure housing, and children who have experienced abuse, abandonment, and neglect.
We work in direct partnership with Boston Medical Center, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Health Law Advocates, Rosie’s Place, the Massachusetts Immigrant Collaborative, and Boston Public Schools. We hold legal clinics at Boston Public Library branches with the support of the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement.
Representation in Legal Cases
Our attorneys represent low-income families and individuals in a range of family-based and humanitarian-based immigration cases. Legal representation is offered at extremely low cost or for free. Much of our casework includes assisting immigrants and refugees with the following types of cases:
- Family-based petitions and applications for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence;
- Consular processing;
- Domestic violence-based petitions;
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status;
- Naturalization, including with disability exemptions;
- Temporary Protected Status applications and renewals;
- DACA renewals;
- Applications to renew permanent resident cards;
- I-730 Petitions to reunify asylee and refugee family members;
- U visas for victims of certain crimes;
- T visas for victims of trafficking;
- Medical Deferred Action;
- Employment authorization applications.
We also provide limited representation in EOIR removal proceedings (immigration court) and before Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as in family court proceedings related to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases.
Free Immigration Legal Consultations
The Rian Immigrant Center offers free legal consultations over the phone or in-person at our legal clinics held at branches of the Boston Public Library. During a consultation, you will have the opportunity to ask questions, receive advice, and learn what immigration options are available to you. Our consultations also serve as intake for potential full representation. Please visit the consultations page for more information.
Make a PaymentSupport for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Immigration attorney Jackie Kelley specializes in providing immigration legal services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. We provide legal consultations, guidance, representation, and refer to community partners, resources, and health care providers. Please contact our center to learn more at 617.542.7654.
Legal Aid for Immigrant Youth
The Rian Immigrant Center provides legal consultations and representation for homeless or near-homeless immigrant students in public schools, as well as youth at local shelters and community based organizations. Our staff attorneys are available to host workshops for educators on how to best support undocumented students and can provide technical assistance to youth-serving organizations. Please contact our center to learn more about our immigration legal aid for immigrant youth at 617.542.7654.
