New York, NY—Today, Governor Hochul released her FY24 executive budget, which included limited and insufficient funding for immigrant New Yorkers. Governor Hochul included $43M in funding for immigration legal services and the Office for New Americans, while failing to include any investment to expand health coverage for all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status. Governor Hochul did include $1B in funding for social services for asylum seekers, including shelters, HERRCs, National Guard deployment, and health care needs. The New York Immigration Coalition demands a full and equitable inclusion of immigrants in the FY24 budget, so that all New Yorkers have the resources needed to survive and thrive in our state.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Every New York family deserves a chance to live without fear and thrive. Governor Hochul’s executive budget for FY24 makes some strides but does not go far enough to meaningfully support immigrant New Yorkers, at a time of unprecedented need in our state. While Governor Hochul’s budget does include funding to support asylum seekers and increases for the Office for New Americans and immigration legal services, it falls short of ensuring ongoing support through a right to counsel for the integration and protection of New Yorkers, especially those facing the possibility of permanent separation from their families and communities in immigration court. Furthermore, her failure to meaningfully address the urgent need for expanded health coverage for all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status is a shocking omission, considering the ongoing pandemic. Though Governor Hochul included further investments to support the vital needs of asylum seekers in New York City, insufficient legal services funding and the lack of a right to counsel in immigration court reduces the tangible and long-term impact of the allocation for those in need. Governor Hochul must honor her responsibility to provide for all New Yorkers, and use her executive budget to equitably invest in keeping our families together and healthy through legal services and access to health care.”
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