Help us launch South Brooklyn Sanctuary
Tax deductible
SOUTH BROOKLYN SANCTUARY IS A 501(c)(3) NONPROFIT. CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THIS GOFUNDME ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
Thousands of migrants are being deported to unsafe conditions in their home countries or living “undocumented” despite being eligible to work and reside legally in the U.S. It’s time for New Yorkers to step up, learn about the legal system, and help each other.
South Brooklyn Sanctuary trains every-day New Yorkers to provide legal information and support to migrants who cannot afford attorneys. We offer know your rights information, legal referrals to pro-bono attorneys, and assistance with legal paperwork. We encourage people seeking support from South Brooklyn Sanctuary to assume volunteer roles.
Our work is essential because there is no federal right to a lawyer in immigration court, the city has not met the need, and many local nonprofits have close their waiting lists. As a result, migrants are representing themselves without legal training or basic English-language skills.
Our work grew out of the grassroots, volunteer-run legal clinic at a Good Shepherd, a Sanctuary church lead by Father Juan Carlos Ruiz. We launched in the Spring of 2022, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott first began busing migrants to New York City from the southern border. Since then, we have provided support to over 5,000 people; we support approximately 50 people a week.
Help us raise funds to hire a full-time Legal Advocacy Director with legal expertise and a commitment to community organizing. Our new director will supervise volunteers, design client-centered programing, and strengthen our partnerships and referral networks. With improved legal training and oversight we could vastly expand our volunteers’ capacity to help people file their own pro-se applications.
All contributions to SBS are eligible for IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit tax deduction. You will automatically receive a donation letter by email after making a contribution.
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South Brooklyn Sanctuary
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