The Lawyer Priest From Ireland Who Counsels New York’s Immigrants
The New York Times
Msgr. James Kelly has been helping people obtain citizenship since he moved to Brooklyn in 1960. His job has never felt more urgent, or more controversial.
Outside a nondescript storefront in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a line of people stretched down the block.
They stood rocking babies, pushing toddlers in strollers and clutching thick envelopes of paperwork. They were looking for help with visa requests, work permits, green card applications and citizenship paperwork, all in hopes of living and working legally in New York.
Inside sat Msgr. James Kelly, an 87-year-old priest turned lawyer who leads a team that provides guidance, at a steep discount, to immigrants seeking legal status.
The work they do out of their cramped office, District Three Immigration Services, has never been in greater demand — and their ability to help has never been less guaranteed.
What began as a passion project for Father Kelly when he arrived in New York from Ireland 65 years ago has become a lifeline for immigrants who are terrified about President Trump’s promises of mass deportations.
On a recent weekday, the line of people looking for help appeared never-ending. A rudimentary sign taped to the front door denoting a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. was summarily ignored. Before the inauguration, the office would typically see 50 clients in a day; that number is now up to 80.
