Print, digital and radio ads will reach Filipino New Yorkers and other immigrant communities with confidential legal help in their preferred language
The New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has launched a month-long, $300,000 advertising campaign promoting its free, confidential Immigration Legal Support Hotline, with outreach in Tagalog aimed at connecting Filipino New Yorkers and other immigrant residents with trusted legal help in their preferred language.
The campaign, funded by the New York City Council for fiscal year 2026, will reach New Yorkers in 17 languages, including Tagalog, English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Pulaar, Tibetan, Nepali, Kichwa, Soninke, Arabic, Punjabi, French, Haitian Creole, Urdu, Wolof and Min Nan.
“New York City speaks hundreds of languages, and every one of them belongs here. Our Immigration Legal Support Hotline connects New Yorkers to free, confidential legal help in the language they speak and trust, regardless of their immigration status,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a press statement.
“This month, we’re bringing that legal support directly into our communities — in seventeen languages, through the newspapers people read, the radio stations they listen to and the neighborhoods they call home. If we say New York is a city that welcomes immigrants, then we have a responsibility to make sure every New Yorker knows where to turn for help. That is exactly what we’re doing.”
“During this critical moment when New Yorkers are facing a challenging and evolving immigration enforcement landscape, our city is making clear that immigrant communities have access to resources and support,” said MOIA Commissioner Faiza N. Ali.
“Through this multifaceted and comprehensive ad campaign, funded by our partners at the New York City Council, we are proud to expand access to our Immigration Legal Support Hotline across the five boroughs. By connecting through a variety of mediums, we are reaching immigrant New Yorkers in the language they speak and providing trusted information they can use.”
Print and radio ads will run in community and ethnic media newspapers and radio stations, while digital ads will appear on social media platforms where New Yorkers get news and information. Throughout August, MOIA’s outreach team will also distribute ads, including posters in multiple languages, in neighborhoods across the city.
New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can reach the free and confidential hotline in their language by calling 1-800-354-0365 or by dialing 311 and saying, “Immigration Legal.”
The hotline is available: Monday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday: Last Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“For too many immigrant families, fear and lack of information keeps them from seeking the legal help they need and deserve,” said Deputy Whip Elsie Encarnación.
“MOIA’s new hotline is an important step in changing that reality. No matter your status, no matter your language, you can pick up the phone and get real, confidential support without fear of judgment or exposure. That’s not only peace of mind for families who have gone without it for far too long, but potentially the difference that saves countless New Yorkers from experiencing the most heartbreaking outcomes of the immigration legal system.”
“While ICE wreaks havoc in immigrant communities across the city and the country, New York City is proud to deliver free legal support in the languages New Yorkers speak,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés.
“We urge New Yorkers to use MOIA’s new hotline to get the confidential and safe support they need, and will continue to push for greater investments in vital programs like these to combat Trump’s chaotic and deadly immigration agenda.”
