named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
DACA Program
Offers legal support and application assistance for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
Pro Se Plus Project (PSPP)
Expands access to legal representation for recently arrived migrants in New York by supporting self-representation in immigration court.
Rapid Response Legal Collaborative
Provides legal representation for individuals already ordered removed and at imminent risk of detention or deportation.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Immigration Legal Services 3 activities
- Operating emergency legal response programsRuns the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative, launched in 2019, to provide urgent legal support to individuals at imminent risk of detention or deportation, including securing temporary restraining orders and challenging unlawful removals.
- Providing direct legal services to immigrantsOffers free or low-cost legal assistance to immigrants in New York, including help with applications for immigration benefits, DACA renewals, asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and family-based residency. Services are delivered through in-person and remote intake systems, and the organization has supported thousands of Latino immigrants since 1985.
- Supporting access to legal forms and immigration informationProvides access to critical immigration forms (including I-589, I-821, and change-of-address forms) and guidance on retrieving court case information via A-Number, primarily through online and phone-based resources.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advancing immigrant rights through precedent-setting litigationRepresents immigrants in appellate and federal court cases that establish key legal precedents, including victories in the Second Circuit on asylum eligibility based on resistance to gang coercion, political opposition, and identity-based persecution, as well as challenges to unlawful detention and evidence suppression.
- Conducting legal research and case summariesCompiles summaries of Federal Courts of Appeals cases from 2017 to 2021 for use by legal practitioners in the Second Circuit, supporting broader advocacy and litigation efforts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.99M
Contributions & grants$1.95M98%
Program service revenue$10K1%
Investment income$28K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.71M
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.57M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.30M
Cash$1.73M
Investments$0
Liabilities$24K
Net assets$2.28M
Liquid reserves12.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +12.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEATHER AXFORD | DIRECTOR | 40 | $100K |
board members · 7
- CHRRISTINA PRUSAK CHIANESE — MEMBER
- ELIZABETH PLUM — MEMBER
- JEFFREY CHASE — MEMBER
- JOSE LUIS ROSA — MEMBER
- JOSE RAMOS — MEMBER
- KRISTI DALLING — MEMBER
- REBECCA BROWN — MEMBER
relationships · 20
Who they work with
- ACLU Partner — Filed amicus brief in Pretzantzin v. Holder
- American Baptist Church v. Thornburgh Partner — Engaged in this landmark class-action lawsuit that led to a settlement allowing Salvadorans and Guatemalans to reapply for asylum and obtain work authorization.
- Boston University Immigrants’ Rights Clinic Partner — Former employer of Michelle Martínez and likely collaborator in immigrant legal advocacy
- Brooklyn Legal Services, Corp. A Network — Anne Pilsbury sits on the Board of Directors, indicating formal organizational affiliation and collaboration in Brooklyn-based legal services
- Brooklyn church Partner — Hosts CALA’s operations and provides a physical location for services.
- Center for Constitutional Rights Network — Anne Pilsbury worked on a civil rights case with this organization before founding CALA, establishing an early professional connection.
- Department of Homeland Security Government — Monitors DHS guidance to inform DACA filing practices and client recommendations.
- EGLI International Partner — Filed amicus brief in Osorio v. INS
- Executive Office of Immigration Review Government — Provides information about immigration court processes, hearings, and change of address procedures through EOIR forms and systems.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement Government — Provides information about ICE procedures, including appointment scheduling and change of address requirements.
- Lawyers Committee for Human Rights Partner — Filed amicus brief in Osorio v. INS
- NYIFUP Partner — Filed amicus brief in Garcia-Aranda v. Garland
- NYU Partner — Students from NYU assisted CALA in preparing and filing asylum applications under the ABC v. Thornburgh settlement.
- New York Nonprofit Media Funder — Awarded the inaugural Nonprofit Trailblazers Award to CALA staff in recognition of cutting-edge representation of undocumented communities
- Safe Passage Project Partner — Organization where Livia Santoro previously served as Senior Staff Attorney and where Sarya interned; connection point for shared expertise in child immigration representation
- The Door Partner — Organization where Livia Santoro served as Supervising Attorney of the Detained Minors Project, indicating professional collaboration in youth immigration legal services
- Transfiguration Catholic Church Partner — Provided physical space and institutional support for CALA’s founding and operations, including office space in the church basement.
- USCIS Government — Engages with USCIS processes for DACA renewal and Advance Parole applications on behalf of clients.
- USCIS Government — Provides links to USCIS forms and change of address processes for immigration services.
- VIA/Rebecca Press Partner — Collaborates on educational content, including a video about Temporary Protected Status (TPS) application.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Combines individual legal defense with systemic advocacy to transform immigrant rightsmethodology: individual_and_systemic_advocacyBy combining direct legal representation with strategic litigation and policy advocacy, the organization produces both immediate client protections and long-term structural change, because individual cases can set precedents that shift broader legal conditions for immigrant communities.
- Ensures continuity of legal access during crises via remote service deliverymethodology: remote-service-accessBy using remote phone-based intake and services during public health emergencies, the organization maintains access to critical legal support, because remote modalities preserve client safety while preventing disruptions in time-sensitive immigration processes.
- Expands legal access through community-centered empowerment and pro bono mobilizationmethodology: community-centered_legal_educationBy embedding legal services in trusted community contexts and mobilizing volunteer legal networks, the organization increases access to representation for underserved immigrants, because culturally specific outreach and shared values (e.g., faith-based trust) lower barriers to engagement and expand service capacity.
- Supports self-representation through targeted information and procedural guidancemethodology: pro_se_legal_navigationBy equipping individuals with clear resources and procedural knowledge, the organization enables timely and effective self-representation in asylum and immigration proceedings, because access to accurate information reduces delays and increases the likelihood of successful outcomes even in the absence of direct legal counsel.
- Tailors legal support to culturally specific immigrant populationsmethodology: culturally_specific_legal_supportBy designing services specifically for Latin American individuals and families, the organization improves legal outcomes because culturally and linguistically aligned assistance increases trust, comprehension, and effective navigation of complex immigration processes.