Our Mission
BIC has helped more than 1,000 Berkshire immigrants become naturalized US citizens since its founding in 1997.
The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to advocate for the rights of all immigrants by helping them navigate the complex U.S. immigration system with affordable legal services, local resources, and education. Berkshire Immigrant Center provides its clients with tools to help them overcome financial and cultural barriers, with the goals of strengthening civic engagement and creating equal opportunity for all. Berkshire Immigrant Center supports changes to systems which are unjust to immigrants, and supports state and national immigration advocacy efforts.
The Center assists more than 700 individuals annually from more than 60 countries in several languages. Our Case Workers are accredited by the Department of Justice to represent clients on US Citizenship and Immigration Services visa applications and give legal advice to those seeking immigration benefits in the US and education on civil rights.
We are located on the 2nd floor of St. Stephen's Church at 67 East Street in Pittsfield, MA. Visit Location & Hours to learn more.
Our History
The Berkshire Immigrant Center (originally known as the New American Citizenship Coalition) was founded in 1997 to assist immigrants in Berkshire County, mainly Eastern European Jewish refugees resettling in the area at the time. The center was founded by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires. Their aim was to help immigrants, regardless of their race or religion, become American citizens.
In order to meet the increasing needs of the area’s immigrant population, BIC became a fiscal project of the Berkshire Community Action Council in 2006. Berkshire Community Action Council provided fiscal and administrative support to Berkshire Immigrant Center, but did not offer immigration or legal services, so in 2012 the Berkshire Immigrant Center transitioned its work under the auspices of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA).
In October 2021 BIC became an independent 501(c)(3) organization and in 2022 celebrated its 25th anniversary. Our Center is the only nonprofit agency providing comprehensive low-cost immigration legal services in Berkshire County, working to meet the needs of foreign-born residents in the Berkshires and surrounding areas. Since its inception, BIC has expanded its services and has served thousands of clients from over 90 countries.