New York City Council Member Julie Won has announced a partnership with CUNY School of Law to provide free, reliable, and confidential immigration legal services for residents of District 26. Launched on September 3, the initiative aims to support individuals with family-based petitions, naturalization, citizenship, TPS, DACA, and other immigration matters.
“We’re partnering with CUNY School of Law to offer free, reliable, and confidential immigration legal services. Whether you need help with family-based petitions, naturalization, or consultations on TPS, DACA, and other immigration matters — we’re here to support you,” Julie Won announced in a social media post.
The services are available through in-person or remote consultations. Residents can schedule appointments by calling 718-383-9566 or emailing district26@council.nyc.gov. The office is located at 37-04 Queens Boulevard, Suite 205, Long Island City, NY 11101.
New York City’s 26th City Council district is one of 51 districts in the New York City Council. It has been represented by Democrat Julie Won since 2022. District 26 covers the westernmost neighborhoods of Queens along the East River, including Long Island City, Sunnyside, southern Astoria, and northern Woodside. Sunnyside and Woodside are also hubs for the Nepali community.
Recently, the Trump administration terminated TPS for Nepalis, leaving thousands of TPS holders in a state of uncertainty. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has already announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and associated work permits for Nepalis are no longer valid as of August 20, 2025.
On one hand, the Trump administration has ended Nepali TPS, while on the other, a court hearing on this matter is scheduled for November 18. This situation has increased confusion among Nepalis with TPS.
The appeals court’s decision, issued by a three-judge panel, granted the government’s motion to end the protections while the appeal is pending. The ruling has left many Nepalis in the U.S. with TPS in a state of confusion, unsure of their legal status and work authorization. This is a particularly serious issue for those with pending green card petitions.
TPS is a humanitarian program for nationals of designated countries who cannot safely return home due to events like armed conflict or natural disasters. Nepal was first granted TPS on June 24, 2015, by then-DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, following a catastrophic earthquake on April 25, 2015. This disaster justified TPS for approximately 15,000 Nepalis in the U.S. at the time.
Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
