Looking to fight back against President Trump’s Immigration Policies, the New York is set to dedicate $10 million in its emerging new Budget for Immigrant Legal Services.
The commitment, to be announced by Gov. Cuomo and the eight-member Senate Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), is said to be the largest of its kind in State history.
"The story of New York is the story of immigrants and this funding builds upon this administration's long-standing work to protect those seeking a better life as New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “Through this first in the nation public-private partnership, we will fight to ensure all immigrants have access to their rights under the law and that New York continues to be a beacon of hope and opportunity for all."
IDC Leader Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx) said that “these vital funds knock down the financial wall immigrants face during deportation hearings by providing free legal assistance.”
The Funding is designed to build on the Liberty Defense Project, a Public/Private partnership Cuomo recently announced that will offer Pro-Bono Legal Services and other resources to Immigrants regardless of their status.
At the time, a number of Lawmakers and Immigrant groups complained Cuomo was not putting any State Money behind the effort. But as part of the new Budget that is working its way through the Legislature, $4 million will go to the Vera Institute of Justice, which provides Lawyers to those detained in Upstate Immigration Courts.
Another $1 million each will head to the New York Immigration Coalition, the Empire Justice Center, Catholic Charities Community Services, the Northern Manhattan Immigration Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and $2 million is earmarked for the Hispanic Federation.
Steven Choi, the New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director who was critical of Cuomo last week, praised the $10 million Commitment. “At a time when New York's immigrants are under attack, this funding will go a long way to supporting projects that will protect, defend and empower our communities across the state," said Steven Choi. But he later added: “We thank the IDC for ensuring that there is some money to support critical immigration services, but the fact is that the governor has put not a single public dollar in his touted Liberty Defense Project that would support organizations across the state. That's not the leadership we need for our New York"
Angela Fernandez, Executive Director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said her organization has received hundreds of calls a day from Immigrants seeking Legal Assistance. “This program allows for immigrants who have a legal right to stay, actually exercise that right with court-appointed counsel, closing this unforgivable justice gap,” Fernandez said.
Politically, the Funding could help the IDC, which has been criticized by Liberals for entering into a Leadership Coalition with the Republicans.
A Cuomo Aide credited the IDC with being instrumental for getting the Immigration Funds passed in the GOP-controlled Senate.
“The IDC is committed to helping immigrants as a part of this year's budget process, and this is a clear, unquestionable way of doing just that,” said Sen. Jose Peralta, a Queens Democrat who defected to the IDC earlier this year.
Sen. Marisol Alcantara, a Manhattan Democrat who angrily struck back against attacks that the IDC is emboldening the GOP and Trump’s Agenda, praised the new Funding for Immigrant Legal Services. “I am gratified that New York State has chosen to stand behind immigrant communities,” Alcantara said. “This $10 million in state funding for immigrant legal defense will go a long way towards ensuring that the immigration process is fair to all parties involved and that New York welcomes and values its immigrant communities.”
But even with the Funding, critics, including mainline Senate Democrats, say the IDC has not delivered on the Creation of a State DREAM Act that would give the Children of Undocumented Immigrants access to state Tuition Assistance programs. The DREAM Act was not part of a College Affordability plan agreed to as part of the new Budget.
Meanwhile, adoption of the new $162 Billion State budget, already five days late, ground to a halt Wednesday over disagreements on several issues, including a plan to raise the age from 16 to 18 that a teen can be Criminally Charged as an Adult.
The Senate had already passed six of the remaining nine Budget Bills. The Assembly started passing the Bills Wednesday afternoon.
"These are important issues and there are differences between us and the Senate and the governor and we continue to work them out and hopefully reach a compromise that's suitable to everybody,” said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester).
The Legislature hopes to finish the Budget this weekend.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment