From the pogroms of Eastern Europe and the unspeakable events of the Holocaust to the collapse of the Iron Curtain, HIAS and Council was there to help resettle and integrate Jews into the United States. Today, the work of HIAS and Council is a legal and humanitarian lifeline to people of all nationalities who come to our shores for a new life of safety, freedom and opportunity.
Based on the Jewish value of “welcoming the stranger,” HIAS and Council has aided over 300,000 new Americans representing 100 nationalities. We provide:
- Legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees. We assist with a variety of matters including: political asylum, representation in deportation proceedings, legal representation to survivors of domestic violence and immigrant youth, and other immigration applications including naturalization, family visas, and applications for replacement green cards;
- Resettlement services that assist refugees from the moment of their arrival in the United States to helping them to become self-sufficient;
- Advocacy for the fair treatment and full integration into American society of immigrants and refugees from all backgrounds.
