Liberty Defense Project, adult literacy, and healthcare among key priorities for immigrant New York
NEW YORK, NY - The New York State budget is due on April 1st, and negotiations are ongoing. The budget will determine key priorities for New York’s immigrant communities, including access to healthcare, education, and legal services.
In response, the New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director, Steven Choi, issued the following statement:
“Immigrant communities are watching closely as legislative leaders hammer out the budget. The Governor’s Liberty Defense Project - a critical initiative that provides important legal services to vulnerable immigrants across the state - must be expanded from its current $12 million level to $20 million, given the huge gaps in services that continue to exist. Any backing away from that level of funding would be a cruel twist for immigrants who continue to live in fear from Brentwood to Buffalo."
“In Year 2 of Trump, New York must set an example for how to fight back against the Administration’s vicious attacks on immigrant communities. The State must include $15.3 million for Adult Literacy Education so that 17,000 New Yorkers do not have their ESL and literacy seats literally taken out from under them because of Trump’s funding cuts. With DACA having expired, the Governor must finally step up and include thousands of New York’s young, undocumented students in his Excelsior scholarship program, and our leaders must respond to the attack on our health care system by expanding Child Health Plus to include all New Yorkers up to age 29.”
“This is the time for action, not words. We will be watching.”
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