Championing Rights and Freedoms
CWS Lancaster staff offers free and low-cost legal representation by attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives to refugees, immigrants, unaccompanied children, and their families with family and humanitarian-based immigration matters.
Immigration Legal Counseling
Immigrants and refugees have many complicated and expensive legal hurdles on the path to protection, citizenship, and reuniting with their families. CWS Lancaster’s Immigration Legal Counseling staff provide low-cost legal advice and representation to refugees, asylum-seekers, and other immigrants in central PA. Our program offers an alternative to the high cost of private immigration lawyers in central Pennsylvania. Church World Service/Lancaster is recognized by the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Citizenship & Integration
In partnership with the Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13), the Citizenship & Integration Program provides free citizenship classes and legal services for eligible permanent residents who are interested in becoming U.S. citizens. Morning and evening classes are offered in Lancaster and Lebanon. Initial screenings for naturalization are provided by CWS legal program staff at no charge.
Immigrant Children’s Program
Unaccompanied children fleeing adversity should be able to meaningfully access the legal protections afforded them by the laws of the United States. The Immigrant Children’s Program staff increases access to legal representation for immigrant children facing deportation without the support of a parent or legal guardian. CWS provides Know Your Rights orientations, legal screenings, court preparation, and free legal representation to unaccompanied immigrant children.
Know Your Rights trainings for detained children
Legal Screenings for detained children
naturalization applications filed
Volunteer Story
Pro Bono Collaboration
Our network of volunteer attorneys are essential to ensuring that children receive the legal representation they need. See why our volunteers love the work they do in our community. Looking for volunteer opportunities to represent unaccompanied children?
CWS staff members are licensed attorneys and/or accredited to practice Immigration law before the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Immigration Courts.
NOTE: Beware of Immigration Scams. Only attorneys or accredited representatives can give you legal advice about which forms to submit, explain immigration options you may have, communicate with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about your case. “Notarios,” notary publics, immigration consultants and businesses cannot give you legal immigration advice. In many other countries, the word “notario” means that the individual is an attorney, but that is not true in the United States. If you need help with immigration issues, be very careful before paying money to anyone who is neither an attorney nor a DOJ-accredited representative of a recognized organization. To find more information about how to avoid immigration scams, please visit www.uscis.gov/avoidscams.