New York, NY—Today, the New York City Mayor and the City Council released a $115.9 billion budget for FY26.
The NYIC fought for a range of programs to support immigrant New Yorkers, and applauds investments in:
- Immigration legal services: $78.4 million for legal services and rapid response funds to safeguard Immigrant New Yorkers from Trump’s mass deportation scheme, including $33.33 million for legal services for low-income immigrants, $24.6 million for NYIFUP and $16.5 million for unaccompanied minors and families.
- Childcare and early education: $25 million for Promise NYC, as well as $10 million investment to strengthen the Department of Education’s birth-to-five early childhood education system, focusing on expanding access in high-need neighborhoods.
- Community Interpreter Bank and Language Services worker cooperatives: $3.8 million investment in these programs.
- Access Health NYC: received a $3.6 million investment.
- Libraries: $32.7 million total for Libraries, including $15 million in new funds for the libraries’ general operating expenses, and $1M to expand 7-day library service to 10 additional branches citywide
- Other Key Public Education Programs: $93.3 million mostly restored (programs like restorative justice, mental health continuum, community schools, school support workers, arts and summer programming, and college preparatory programs).
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“The New York City FY26 budget that unanimously passed yesterday is an important victory for immigrant and low-income New Yorkers. Trump’s mass disappearance agenda – including arrests without due process at immigration courts – is creating instability and chaos in New York City. The robust investments in immigration legal services in this budget recognizes this fact as a result of the NYC Council and advocates like the New York Immigration Coalition highlighting the urgency to keep immigrant New York families together and out of the deportation pipeline. The additional investments in childcare and other key educational programs will allow our hard working families and students to remain supported to be able to thrive in school and their communities. The funding included for libraries will ensure that immigrant New Yorkers can continue to access the services they need in their neighborhoods. Language access is essential to be able to interact with government agencies, and while more could have been invested, we’re glad to see continued funding for the Community Interpreter Bank and Language Co-ops. We commend the NYC Council Speaker and the whole City Council for their steadfast and successful advocacy to ensure the health and well-being of every single New Yorker regardless of their status.”