Funded by the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services
RIAC Regional Immigration
Assistance Centers

Serving mandated providers across New York State

Expert advice on the immigration consequences of your client’s case

Criminal and Family Law attorneys are required to advise their clients on immigration consequences which may flow from the case. Our six regional centers provide expert immigration advice and assistance to all public defenders & assigned counsel FOR FREE.

Find Your RIAC Practice advisories

Map of New York State: the six RIAC regions. Select a region for contact details. Allegany County — Region 1: Western New York Cattaraugus County — Region 1: Western New York Cayuga County — Region 1: Western New York Chautauqua County — Region 1: Western New York Erie County — Region 1: Western New York Genesee County — Region 1: Western New York Livingston County — Region 1: Western New York Monroe County — Region 1: Western New York Niagara County — Region 1: Western New York Ontario County — Region 1: Western New York Orleans County — Region 1: Western New York Seneca County — Region 1: Western New York Steuben County — Region 1: Western New York Wayne County — Region 1: Western New York Wyoming County — Region 1: Western New York Yates County — Region 1: Western New York Broome County — Region 2: Central New York Chemung County — Region 2: Central New York Chenango County — Region 2: Central New York Cortland County — Region 2: Central New York Delaware County — Region 2: Central New York Herkimer County — Region 2: Central New York Jefferson County — Region 2: Central New York Lewis County — Region 2: Central New York Madison County — Region 2: Central New York Oneida County — Region 2: Central New York Onondaga County — Region 2: Central New York Oswego County — Region 2: Central New York Otsego County — Region 2: Central New York Schuyler County — Region 2: Central New York Tioga County — Region 2: Central New York Tompkins County — Region 2: Central New York Albany County — Region 3: Northern New York Clinton County — Region 3: Northern New York Essex County — Region 3: Northern New York Franklin County — Region 3: Northern New York Fulton County — Region 3: Northern New York Hamilton County — Region 3: Northern New York Montgomery County — Region 3: Northern New York Rensselaer County — Region 3: Northern New York Saratoga County — Region 3: Northern New York Schenectady County — Region 3: Northern New York Schoharie County — Region 3: Northern New York St. Lawrence County — Region 3: Northern New York Warren County — Region 3: Northern New York Washington County — Region 3: Northern New York Columbia County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Dutchess County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Greene County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Orange County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Putnam County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Rockland County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Sullivan County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Ulster County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Westchester County — Region 4: Hudson Valley Bronx County — Region 5: New York City Kings County — Region 5: New York City New York County — Region 5: New York City Queens County — Region 5: New York City Richmond County — Region 5: New York City Nassau County — Region 6: Long Island Suffolk County — Region 6: Long Island

Select your region on the map for contact details

What we do

Each RIAC supports all public defender and assigned counsel within its region to provide the effective assistance of counsel required by Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010). Counsel are required to not just advise on possible immigration consequences of any case, but work to avoid or minimize them. The RIACs work as counsel’s immigration law subject matter expert in furtherance of their client’s lawful objectives.

Case consultations

Free expert analysis of the immigration consequences of your client’s criminal, appellate, post-conviction, or family court matter.

Practice advisories

Practice advisories for counsel on legal issues they must handle before individualized advice can be obtained from the RIAC.

Training & support

CLE Training for defense offices, assigned counsel panels, and courts on immigration issues.

Who we serve

Our services are for mandated legal service providers — public defenders, assigned counsel and institutional providers — not for members of the public directly.

To ensure that public defense attorneys have access to the expertise needed to provide effective assistance to noncitizens, in 2016, the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services (ILS) created a statewide network of Regional Immigration Assistance Centers (RIACs), staffed by attorneys and other professionals with extensive expertise in immigration law. This innovative program is the first of its kind in the nation. The services provided by RIAC staff include immigration advisals in criminal, appellate, and post-conviction matters, as well as in Family Court cases carrying potential immigration consequences. The RIACs also offer extensive trainings to public defense counsel and courts.

If you are an individual represented by a public defender or assigned counsel

Please speak with your attorney, who can consult us on your behalf at no cost.

If you are counsel who is privately retained

Please still contact your RIAC (but let them know you are privately retained) and they may be able to refer you to a private attorney who can assist.