Legal Services
New arrivals to the United States often have many complicated and expensive legal hurdles on the path to citizenship, safety and to reuniting with their families.
For asylum seekers hoping to find protection from violence and persecution in the United States, legal representation can mean the difference between permanent protection and being sent back to increasingly dangerous situations. And for many immigrant and refugee families, legal support is their best hope of being reunited with their families who are waiting to join them in the United States.
Across the country, the CWS network offers low cost legal services to refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants. Our dedicated legal team helps them apply for citizenship, green cards, DACA protections, temporary protected status, asylum protection and more.
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Latest Updates
More Than 20,000 Unaccompanied Children at Risk of Losing Legal Representation in Immigration Court
Expiration of Federal Contract Leaves Vulnerable Children Facing Proceedings Alone WASHINGTON, D.C., August 5, 2026—On Friday, July 31st, the Trump administration ended a critical federal contract with the Acacia Center for Justice providing legal services and representation to children who entered the United States without a parent or guardian. The decision dismantled a network of nearly 100 legal service providers, including Church World Service, and leaves over …
Termination of Unaccompanied Children Programs Strips Vulnerable Kids of Legal Protection and Support
New York City – CWS today expressed alarm over the administration’s near-total termination of work on its Unaccompanied Children Program, halting legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children. The organization notes that this executive action immediately strips thousands of children–including infants and young children–from legal representation, forcing them to now navigate and somehow represent themselves in immigration court proceedings. “No child …
Following Election Results, CWS Reaffirms Commitment to Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors, Vulnerable Families Worldwide
Contact: media@cwsglobal.org Following Election Results, CWS Reaffirms Commitment to Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors, Vulnerable Families Worldwide Washington, D.C.– In response to the news that Donald Trump has been elected for another term to the office of President of the United States, Church World Service President and CEO Rick Santos issued the following statement: “As we prepare to usher in a …