New York, NY—Today, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her $233 billion executive budget for FY25, with more than $2.4 billion allocation to welcome asylum seekers.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“We commend Governor Kathy Hochul for a budget that clearly recognizes the needs of our most vulnerable New Yorkers and invests in the success of our newest ones to be able to contribute, integrate and thrive.
Looking beyond the $2.4 billion allocated to welcoming asylum seekers, the Governor’s Executive Budget includes more targeted funding allocations for immigrant communities. Her proposed $44.2 million investment in legal services is a start, but $150 million will ensure that we can build an infrastructure that meets today’s urgent needs and tomorrow’s demands more efficiently. The funding would ensure that more families would be able to access the legal support they need to change their immigration status and attain work authorizations, while keeping families together and stabilizing communities.
While the FY 2025 Executive Budget continues to fund some rental supplements that are available regardless of immigration status, it does not replace the need for $250 million in Housing Voucher Assistance so New Yorkers can establish roots within a community at a fraction of the price of staying in shelters. But to ensure that immigrant New Yorkers can fully participate in their communities and interact with government offices, the State must also promote language justice by including the Pilot Language Access Certification Program in its FY25 Budget proposal.
Governor Hochul’s State of the State made scant mention of immigrant New Yorkers. But this FY25 budget proposal makes clear that even the Governor believes immigrants are key to New York’s economy, population growth, and future success."