In the Spring of 2009, a group of activists living in the East End of Long Island, alarmed at ongoing immigration raids in their neighborhoods, began to look for ways to ease the inquietude that was palpable amongst immigrants in their neighborhoods. Every day, immigrants going to look for work as day laborers in a known pick-up/drop-off area in Southampton were harangued and threatened by radical, anti-immigrant individuals. The situation escalated when an immigrant laborer was stabbed to death in the village of Patchogue. The activists, seeking ways to give a permanent voice and level the playing field on behalf of the immigrant community came upon a great idea. Let’s begin a not-for-profit legal services agency, was the collective response. 

With assistance and support from Incarnation Lutheran Church in Bridgehampton. NY,   the activists were given space within the church to set up their legal services agency. The activists settled on a name that said what they did, and where, hence, - ImmigrationLegal Services of Long Island, Inc., (ILSOLI), was formed and organized as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of New York. At its head was Carlos Piovanetti, Esq., as managing attorney., and Luz Ramirez, the Executive Director. Together, the two activists created a premier not-for-profit legal services agency in Long Island.

We opened our doors in September of 2009. We did a little bit of advertising, and a lot of word of mouth that ILSOLI is now open for business at Incarnation Lutheran Church. From our very first day, immigrants came telling us their fears and asking for help - “I don't want to go back home,” became their collective cry. We also noted that many immigrants were coming from communities outside the east End of Long Island, some traveling over one hour to see one of our lawyers and paralegals.  

During our second Board meeting, Ms. Ramirez appraised the Board that ILSOLI was what the immigrant community was clamoring for, and we needed to open other offices in Long Island and beyond. After all, we were empowered to serve immigrants who live or work within the tri-state area. Ms. Ramirez asked the State Farm office in Brentwood for space and they readily said yes. In the Fall of 2009, ILSOLI opened its second office in space provided by State Farm. ILSOLI’s growth in Brentwood shattered all of our expectations. We grew exponentially, beyond our wildest expectations!

In the Spring of 2012, ILSOLI made two tactical changes. First, we moved from State Farm to much larger quarters at 820 Suffolk Avenue, where we occupy over 2,000 square feet.

Second, the Brentwood office became our main office, and the site at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Bridgehampton became a satellite office. In an effort to provide the best service possible to our clients, ILSOLI opened a support office across the street from the Immigration Court in New York City in 2015.

What started as a small agency inside a church, today counts with four full-time attorneys, and a support staff of ten dedicated professionals. ILSOLI’s growth is the result of the selfless, countless hours that a group of activists wrestled with many years ago in an attempt to make life better for immigrants that work to enrich our lives.