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PRUCOL (Permanently Residing Under Color of
Law)
immigrants are people who live in the
United States and DHS knows they are here.
DHS has given permission to these immigrants
to stay in the United States or is not taking any
steps to deport them, usually because they are
applying for some benefit. There are many types
of PRUCOL immigrants, such as immigrant
crime victims (U visa holders) (see below),
immigrants granted parole in the U.S. for less
than 1 year, immigrants with deferred action
status, or people under Orders of Supervision.
In New York State, they can qualify for state and
city benefits.
Qualified immigrants (Qualified aliens) are people
in several different categories (see the section on
Eligibility Categories Used to Qualify for Pub-
lic Benefits at the beginning of this guide for a
complete list) who have legal and proper docu-
mentation and are eligible for federal, state, and
city benefits.
Refugees are people outside their country of
nationality who are unable or unwilling to go
back to that country because of fear of persecu-
tion because of their race, religion, nationality,
membership in a certain social group, or politi-
cal opinion. Refugees apply for and get this
status before they enter the United States.
Trafficked immigrants (T visa holders) are people
brought into the United States and forced into
prostitution, slavery, or forced labor. They get a
T visa. Trafficked immigrants are not technically
qualified immigrants, but by law, they can get all
the same benefits as refugees.
Victims of Crime (U visa holders) are undocu-
mented immigrants who have suffered major
physical or mental abuse as crime victims
(domestic violence, assault, rape, etc.) and get
legal status by helping authorities prosecute
crime. They get a U visa. U visa holders are not
qualied immigrants, but are PRUCOL (see
above). They do not qualify for all benefits.
Undocumented immigrants are immigrants who
entered the United States without legal papers or
who stayed longer than their visa allowed. They
only qualify for a few benefits.
U.S. citizens are people who were born in the
United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin
Islands, or Northern Marianas. Also includes
people who became U.S. citizens by natural-
ization, by acquisition (through a U.S. citizen
parent), or by derivation (through a parent’s
naturalization).
U.S. nationals are people who are born in
countries that are in U.S. possession, such as
American Samoa.
The Office of the Public Advocate for the City of New York makes every effort to print accurate and reliable information. It does not guarantee or warrant that the information is complete,
accurate, or up-to-date. The Office reviewed the benefits highlighted in this guide by examining information posted on the websites of the government agencies that administer the benefits
and/or contacting an agency representative to verify information to the extent possible, as of 9/5/08. The Office of the Public Advocate for the City of New York assumes no responsibility for
the use or application of any printed material and assumes no responsibility for any error or omission.
If you are seeking specific information or need assistance with the application process, please contact the government agency directly or a not-for-profit group, if applicable. If you are seek-
ing immigration status information, you should seek professional legal advice.
If you should find errors or omissions, please contact us at 1 Centre Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10007.