New York—Yesterday, the New York State Legislature adjourned with little information as to when it plans to return to close out the 2023 legislative session. In doing so, lawmakers left four important bills that will protect the rights and well-being of New York’s immigrant families in the balance: the Access to Representation Act (S81B Hoylman-Sigal / A1961A Cruz), New York For All Act (S987 Gounardes / A5686 Reyes), Language Access Expansion Act (S3383-A Kennedy / A7235 De Los Santos) and Coverage for All Act (S2237A Rivera / A3020A Gonzalez-Rojas).
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“As our communities face rising xenophobia across the state, NYS lawmakers must come back to Albany and deliver common sense actions that ensure the safety and security of everyone who calls New York home. Legislators must help keep immigrant families together by barring law enforcement from colluding with ICE, by passing the New York for All Act. They must prioritize the passage of the Language Access Expansion Act to ensure that our state government works equally for all its people. Albany can ensure the health of our workforce by providing access to quality, affordable health insurance to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status, at no cost to taxpayers, with the passage of the Coverage for All Act. Lawmakers can provide low-income immigrant New Yorkers equal access to justice simply by passing the Access to Representation Act, which is already funded in the budget. Finally, Albany must take action to address the housing affordability crisis impacting all New Yorkers by passing Good Cause and the Housing Assistance Voucher Program. It’s time for Albany to prioritize people over politics. We won’t rest until every New Yorker has what they need to ensure the well-being of their families.”