Did you know that if you call 311 you can get service in Ilocano?

Posted: February 10th, 2013 ˑ Filled under: Immigration ˑ 2 Comments

‘New York is this amazing city that I love and serve.’ Photos by Noel Pangilinan

By Maria Cruz Lee

Back in October, a small group of civic-minded individuals from the Filipino community gathered in Midtown to participate in a Know Your Rights and Responsibilities Forum coordinated by the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and hosted by The FilAm online magazine.

Representatives from several city agencies were there at the Philippine Center ready to share information and take questions. One of them was me.

I was born in Manila, lived in Antipolo until I was 7 and was brought to New York City by my ‘tita’ (aunt) in 1993. The city was cold and my parents were unfamiliar to me. They had come to New York years before to set up a life for their children. I was naturalized when my mom became a citizen, that is, within a year after I arrived in Queens.

My parents left everything they had in Manila. They took a great risk by bringing us here. Without their struggle, I wouldn’t have this unique opportunity to be part of the office that helps people like them become part of this amazing city that I love and serve.

Like what I said back in October, I wanted to make sure that people know: New York City has an office dedicated to connecting, supporting and celebrating immigrants.

What sparked me to write this was The FilAm article of February 3rd, 2013: “Immigration lawyers warn would-be TNTs: ‘Bill is not for you’.” I feel like we all know of someone who is a ‘TNT’ (“tago ng tago” or always hiding), but what’s great about NYC is that we actually have an Executive Order (EO41) which protects immigration status. You cannot be denied service from a city agency based on your immigration status. Even if you need to provide that information for a public benefit or criminal case, city officials hold the information confidential.

We also have Executive Order 120, which mandates language access. If you call 311, you can get service in Tagalog, Ilocano, etc. If you go to a public hospital, you are entitled to get a translator to help you in Tagalog. If a city agency refuses you translation services, it’s our office that gets your call and we follow up with them.

I’ve been part of this team for almost three years and I still can’t get over how such a small group can help so many people. Sitting at the front of the room that night in October was crazy to me. I’m an immigrant, brought to the U.S. by parents with dreams of a better life, who grew up in Queens, graduated from NYC public schools and is now working at the city office that helps people just like my parents.

I want to make sure the Filipino communities in the five boroughs are heard, helped, and represented. Looking at the small group of folks who attended the forum that night. All I could think about was, “Well, that’s a start.”

Maria Cruz Lee is a project coordinator and a special assistant to the Commissioner on the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Learn more about MOIA’s ongoing initiatives: One NYC One Nation, NYCitizenship in Schools, and Immigrant Heritage Week.

The Know Your Rights panel (from left) Sgt. Rafet Awad of the NYPD New Immigrant Outreach Unit, the author, Fred Riley of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Sarah Flatto of MOIA, and Mischa Byruck of NYC Business Solutions.

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