New York, NY—Last night, the New York State Senate and Assembly proposed their One House Budgets for fiscal year 2027. Lawmakers heeded the call from immigration advocates, and proposed $175 million for immigration legal services – as part of a total of $183 million for immigration social and legal services. The One House Budgets also proposed fully funding the Housing Access Voucher Program at $250 million, and included $75 million for essential Statewide food banks and food access programs like Nourish NY and HPNAP.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Immigrants are the backbone of New York State, and we commend the Senate and Assembly for stepping up to defend and support those most vulnerable to family separation and economic hardship. The proposed investment in legal services recognizes the need to ensure that immigrant New Yorkers can access the representation they need as unlawful ICE terror continues and hundreds of thousands of cases remain pending in immigration court. By fully funding the Housing Access Voucher Program and increasing support for nutritional benefits, Albany is prioritizing putting food on the table and keeping a roof over the heads of those most in need. As federal cuts threaten basic services and healthcare, we welcome these investments and urge the State to continue strengthening the social safety net to protect our families.
“This One House Budget is one of the strongest we’ve seen in years, with historic investments that support immigrant and working families. Yet, more can be done. We call on the Legislature to work with Governor Hochul to solidify investments in universal pre-kindergarten to provide families with the support they need to thrive. As federal cuts threaten critical programs like New York’s Essential Plan and food assistance, New York must continue to step up and support our vital social safety net. The Legislature also missed an opportunity to make deeper investments in essential programs including: language access services that support people in accessing the government services in the languages they speak; the Census Planning Commission to secure a fair and accurate 2030 Census Count; and civic engagement and community-based services that connect New Yorkers to vital resources.
“We look forward to working with both Houses to advance all our priorities in the coming weeks. We must build upon the good work started in the One House budgets to ensure no New York family is left behind.”