New York, NY—As the New York State Legislative session comes to a close for FY26, the State Legislature failed moved the New York for All Act (S2235/A3506) and the Language Access Expansion Act (S5535/A4875) which would protect and defend Immigrant New Yorkers.
The New York for All Act, a landmark piece of legislation, would prohibit state and local government agencies, including local law enforcement, from colluding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sharing sensitive personal information, or allocating personnel and resources to aid in federal immigration enforcement efforts. The legislation would ensure that NYS’ resources are preserved for state priorities while increasing public safety for all New Yorkers.
The Language Access Expansion Act requires New York State agencies to provide free interpretation services in the primary language of the individual seeking services, making government services accessible to more New Yorkers. It would also require the translation of documents related to their services into the top 12 most commonly spoken languages in the state. This expansion would improve access and delivery of language access services beyond New York City, extending to other regions across New York.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“The New York State Legislature’s failure to meet the moment and pass the New York for All Act and the Language Access Expansion Act is a betrayal of immigrant New Yorkers and a missed opportunity to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of every resident across the state. As the Trump administration continues to ramp up its dangerous mass deportation agenda, our state should be acting as a shield—protecting our hard working families, communities, and economy against unwarranted attacks. Instead, Albany chose inaction, missing the opportunity to build a safer, more inclusive, and more just New York. Every day our state refuses to act, more New Yorkers are ripped away from their families or forced to live in fear in the shadows of society. As federal threats escalate, our state leaders can’t stand on the sidelines, because the impact will be felt in every part of the state and every sector of our economy. We can’t forget the contributions of our immigrant neighbors, who are vital members of our local communities and kept our economy running by keeping our communities healthy, caring for our elders and children, and continuing to keep our grocery shelves filled during COVID. We urge our State leaders to treat the safety and dignity of immigrant New Yorkers as a priority and demand they call for a special legislative session to pass these bills.”