Immigrant Defense Initiative

The NYU Immigrant Immigrant Defense Initiative (IDI) serves the immigration-related legal needs of NYU students and employees, and their immediate family members. IDI provides free, confidential legal consultations and representation before immigration court and agencies.

IDI is a project of NYU School of Law’s Immigrant Rights Clinic, under Washington Square Legal Services, Inc., and NYU University.

IDI serves:

  • NYU students at all schools and graduate levels

  • NYU employees (including faculty, staff and contract-based employees)

  • The immediate family members of the above (parents, siblings and spouses)

IDI provides representation in the following immigration matters:

  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initial applications and renewals
  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS) initial applications and renewals
  • Asylum
  • Lawful Permanent Residency/Adjustment of Status
  • Citizenship
  • Employment Authorization Requests
  • Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA)
  • Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
  • Humanitarian visas (trafficking (T), crime victims (U), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA))
  • Representation for those in removal proceedings in immigration court
  • Legal consultations for non-US citizens who have had contact with the criminal system, such as an arrest or conviction
  • Legal trainings, including Know-Your-Rights presentations
  • Advocacy within NYU to support with financial or housing needs
  • Foreign travel monitoring for those affected by travel-related bans or similar policies, or who are otherwise at risk of being denied entry to the U.S.
  • **IDI does not provide legal assistance for any employment-related cases such as visas (immigrant or nonimmigrant, such as H1B, etc.) or employment-related adjustment of status, change of status, or extension of status.**

IDI Team

  • Gabriela Calahorrano, Esq.
    IDI Staff Attorney
    212-998-6435
    immigrant.defense@law.nyu.edu

  • Noelia Rodriguez
    IDI Program Coordinator
    212-998-6459
    noelia.rodriguez@nyu.edu

  • Alina Das, Esq.
    Professor of Clinical Law
    Co-Director, Immigrant Rights Clinic
    212-998-6467
    alina.das@nyu.edu

  • Nancy Morawetz, Esq.
    Professor of Clinical Law
    Co-Director, Immigrant Rights Clinic
    212-998-6451
    nancy.morawetz@nyu.edu

NYU Immigrant Defense Fund

The NYU Immigrant Defense Initiative (IDI) provides free consultations and legal representation to NYU community members, including students, staff and their immediate family members. Among its many initiatives, IDI helps community members apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). 

Allies can support these efforts by contributing to the NYU Immigrant Defense Fund. All money raised through this fund will be used to help cover DACA application fees and other immigration application fees for NYU community members. 

CLICK HERE to make a contribution now (be sure to specify your contribution is for the NYU Immigrant Defense Fund under “Other Designation”). If you have any questions, you can contact the NYU Immigrant Defense Initiative at immigrant.defense@law.nyu.edu or 212-998-6640.