In 1907 LaGuardia returned to New York and began to work at Ellis Island, the main port of entry into the United States. As a translator, LaGuardia called upon his knowledge of five languages to assist the new immigrants in their first steps to becoming US citizens. Simultaneously while at Ellis Island LaGuardia was attending Law School at night at New York University. He graduated in 1910 and soon after joined a law firm where he was known for representing immigrants, the poor and workers.

He also began to become involved in Republican politics. In 1914 he ran for Congress in the heavily Democratic neighborhood of Greenwich Village. Although he lost in his first bid he ran a second time and was elected on November 7, 1916 to his first public office. According to the reminiscences of his second wife, Marie Fisher LaGuardia, Fiorello did not sit quietly during his freshman year in Congress as was expected of new Congressmen but energetically and enthusiastically took part in the everyday workings of the Legislature. LaGuardia would remain in Congress continually until 1932, except for his service during World War I as a pilot and a term as President of the city Board of Aldermen.

In Congress, LaGuardia established a reputation as a progressive leader. During the 1920's he criticized what he saw as unfair immigration restrictions. He opposed prohibition and fought for labor unions. In 1932 he co-sponsored the Norris-LaGuardia Act, which restricted Federal courts from issuing injunctions to stop union activities.

In 1932 the mayoralty of New York was in crisis. Mayor Jimmy Walker had been forced to resign when widespread corruption was found throughout city government. LaGuardia saw an opportunity and threw his hat in the ring to become New York's next Mayor.

LaGuardia ran in 1933 on a broad-based Republican-fusion ticket, pledging to clean up city government and break the stranglehold of the Tammany machine. When LaGuardia's coalition won, the new mayor quickly went to work to take control of the city's government. He lobbied the State Assembly in Albany and received a new city charter. He fought to take charge of the city's finances from the banks and balanced the budget.

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