Know Your Rights as an Immigrant New Yorker: The Free Official NYC Booklets, the Legal Hotline, and How to Make a Family Plan

NYC’s official Know Your Rights materials, the free 800-354-0365 legal hotline, and how to plan for your family — verified from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Knowing your rights before an encounter happens is the single most important thing an immigrant New Yorker can do right now. The NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) maintains a constantly updated set of free, multilingual “Know Your Rights” materials — including guidance for what to do if ICE approaches you, what to do if a loved one is detained, and how New York City’s Sanctuary City laws protect you. This guide walks through those rights and exactly where to get the official materials and free legal help.

Who This Helps: Immigrant New Yorkers of any status, families worried about separation, immigrant workers, caregivers planning for their children, and anyone who wants the official KYR materials to share with their community.

Important Disclaimer: Immigration law and enforcement practices change frequently. This article is general information, not legal advice. Always verify current rules and your specific options with a licensed immigration attorney or a Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)-accredited representative.

Your Rights, According to the City

MOIA’s official Know Your Rights page (last updated May 26, 2026) publishes three core booklets in roughly two dozen languages:

What to do if ICE agents approach you — the “Know Your Rights with ICE” booklet.
What to do if your friend or family member is detained.
Sanctuary City Laws in New York City — how City agencies do and don’t interact with immigration enforcement.

Under New York City’s local laws, City agencies — including the NYPD — generally do not cooperate with ICE except in limited situations, generally do not ask about your immigration status, and do not share your personal information with immigration authorities. You can download the booklets in your language directly from MOIA’s page above.

Specialized Guidance for Specific Situations

MOIA also publishes targeted flyers for common scenarios:

Know Your Rights in Workplaces. ICE may enter the public areas of a business, but generally cannot enter private workplace areas without a judicial warrant signed by a judge or the employer’s permission.
Travel Tips: ICE at Airports. As of March 23, 2026, MOIA notes ICE agents have been deployed at 14 U.S. airports to assist with security operations. MOIA’s airport travel-tips flyer is informational, not legal advice.
Immigrant Parents & Caregivers / Standby Guardianship. If you fear separation from your child, MOIA recommends choosing a “standby guardian” (a backup caregiver), picking an emergency contact and memorizing their number, and updating emergency contact info at your child’s school.
What to do after a loved one is detained and a Removal Order flyer for those who have received one.

Free, Safe, Confidential Legal Help

You never have to pay a “notario” or unlicensed consultant. The City funds free immigration legal help regardless of your status:

MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline: 800-354-0365. Or call 311 and say “Immigration Legal.” As of spring 2026, hours are Monday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and the last Saturday of the month 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Interpretation is available.
MOIA Immigration Legal Support Centers operate in immigrant neighborhoods — housed in community sites, public health facilities, public schools, and libraries — offering free legal help in your language. Your immigration status does not matter.
NYIFUP (New York Immigrant Family Unity Project) provides representation for New Yorkers detained by ICE, a collaboration of The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, and The Bronx Defenders.
Immigrant Rights Workshops (IRWs) teach you how to navigate interactions with ICE, avoid fraud, and access City services.

Protect Yourself From Immigration Fraud

MOIA warns that immigration legal-services fraud is widespread and the consequences can be severe. In New York State, a notary public (“notario público”) cannot give legal advice, draft legal papers, or review documents for legality. Only take advice from a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative. Learn the warning signs on MOIA’s Avoid Immigration Services Fraud page.

How to Take Action Today

Download and read the KYR booklets from MOIA’s Know Your Rights page in your language, and share them with family and neighbors.
Make a family plan: choose a standby guardian, memorize an emergency contact’s number, and update your child’s school records.
Call 800-354-0365 (or 311, “Immigration Legal”) to book free, confidential legal help.
Never pay a notario — verify any provider is an attorney or BIA-accredited.
Confirm current rules with a licensed immigration attorney before acting.

You belong here, and help is real, free, and confidential. HelpNewYork stands with every immigrant New Yorker.