NYC Mayor and City Council Make Deal on Lawyers for Immigrants

After months of squabbling over how to pay for Immigration-related Legal Services for Undocumented Immigrants Convicted of Crimes and Facing Deportation, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Office and the City Council came to a compromise on Monday.

City Hall had not wanted to use City Money to benefit those Convicted of one of 170 Serious Crimes, and under the Agreement Private Donors will contribute $250,000 earmarked for their Defense. That ensures that the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, which since 2013 has Represented Indigent Immigrants who have been Detained, will continue to exist. That Service will remain free, and the City will expand its Resources to Prioritize those who have not been Convicted of Crimes.

The Mayor’s Office committed $16.4 Million and the City Council committed $10 Million for Services provided by Brooklyn Defender Services and The Bronx Defenders and Legal Aid. The City requires Law Enforcement Authorities to turn Undocumented Immigrants Convicted of one of the 170 serious Crimes over to Immigration Enforcement Authorities, and in those cases, the Legal Providers will use the Mmoney Contributed by Donors for their Representation.

The Mayor, in an appearance on NY1, said the Money was provided by an Anonymous Donor from a Foundation. A Spokeswoman maintained that Multiple Foundations were involved.

The success of the Family Unity program “is rooted in unrestricted access,” Adriene Holder, Head of the Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice, said in a Statement. “Now that the issue of a criminal carve-out has been resolved, we look forward to strengthening our efforts defending New Yorkers from unjust detention and deportation.”

A spokeswoman for the Mayor, Freddi Goldstein, and a Spokeswoman for the City Council, Robin Levine, issued a Joint Statement on Monday. “Providing legal representation to those in immigration court who would otherwise face a judge without a lawyer makes a real difference in New Yorkers’ lives,” they said.











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