Proposed legislation would secure legal representation for immigrants
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Albany, NY—Today, the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity for Immigrant Families (CARE4IF) Coalition, allies, elected officials, and immigrant New Yorkers rallied and held a press conference, at the New York State Capitol in support of the One House Budgets’ proposed $175 million investment in immigration legal services, and called for the passage of the Access to Representation Act (S141/A270) and the Building Up Immigrant Legal Defense (BUILD) Act (A2689/S4538) for the 2026 New York State Legislative Session.
Last night, the New York State Senate and Assembly proposed their One House Budgets for the Fiscal Year 2027 New York State budget. Lawmakers championed the call from immigration advocates with a proposed $175 million investment in immigration legal services, as part of a total of $183 million for immigration social and legal services. The Legislature has made clear through this proposal that it recognizes the vital need for New York to defend immigrant families as unlawful ICE terror continues and hundreds of thousands of cases remain pending in immigration court.
The Access to Representation Act would be the first of its kind in the nation, guaranteeing immigrants facing deportation the right to legal counsel in New York State and ensuring they have a fair chance to fight for their freedom. The BUILD Act lays the groundwork for the Access to Representation Act by investing in the critical legal infrastructure needed for service providers to create, maintain, and expand programs to protect immigrant New Yorkers.
“ICE’s campaign of terror across our state and country has made one thing painfully clear: without guaranteed legal representation, immigrants are being forced to navigate a life-or-death system alone. When someone is facing separation from their family, the loss of their livelihood, exile from the only home they may have known for decades, nothing less than due process is on the line. We thank the New York State Legislature for its proposed $175 million investment in immigration legal services funding and call on Albany to pass the Access to Representation and BUILD Acts. If we believe in fairness and justice, then we must ensure that no one is forced to stand alone in immigration court simply because they cannot afford an attorney. We look forward to working with both Houses to advance their budget proposal in the weeks ahead,” said Murad Awawdeh, President & CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.
“We must be uncompromising in protecting New Yorkers against the heinous actions of the federal government and defend our constitutional rights. I am proud to have championed additional funding for immigration legal services to ensure New Yorkers have access to representation that can make the difference between life and death,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, District 12.
"Millions of immigrants call New York home, contributing to our neighborhoods and our economy. At a time when the federal government continues to threaten immigrant families across the country, kidnapping people right off our streets, our state must lead by ensuring people have the tools to defend their constitutional rights. That is why I champion the Access to Representation Act, which would guarantee legal representation for New Yorkers facing immigration proceedings and help ensure that justice does not depend on whether someone can afford a lawyer. To make that promise real, we are pushing for $175 million in funding for immigrant legal services in this year’s state budget, so every New Yorker has a fair chance to defend themselves in court,” said Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, District 39.
“At a time when our New York’s immigrant communities continue to encounter rising hostility from the Trump White House, we must ensure our greatest defense against federal overreach, the courts, are fully staffed, funded and capable of supporting all in need of legal representation. The Access to Representation Act and Build Act are absolutely necessary at this moment to ensure New York remains a home where fairness and opportunity are more than promised, but practiced,” said State Senator John Liu, District 16.
“New York must ensure that immigrant families have access to legal representation and due process. Investing in immigration legal services and advancing the Access to Representation and BUILD Acts will help ensure that, in this troubling time, no one is forced to navigate immigration court alone,” said State Senator José M. Serrano, District 29.
“Due process is not an abstract principle—it is a constitutional promise that justice cannot be reserved for only those who can afford it. When immigrants have legal representation, families stay together and communities remain stable. In this moment of urgency, New York must act: pass the Access to Representation Act, pass the BUILD Act, and invest $175 million in legal services in this year’s state budget so that fairness under the law is never conditional,” said State Senator Robert Jackson, District 31.
“New York has long stood as a sanctuary for those seeking dignity, justice, and opportunity, rooted in the belief that justice and due process should never depend on someone’s immigration status. In the Bronx, I see every day how immigrant families work tirelessly to build a better future for their children while contributing to the strength of our communities. At a time when many of these families live in fear of detention and deportation, we must continue to push for the investment of $175 million in immigration legal services. It is not just policy, it is a moral responsibility to ensure that every person has access to due process and a fair chance to defend their future. As the proud representative of the 32nd Senatorial District, I strongly support this funding because access to legal representation can mean the difference between a family staying together or being torn apart. When we defend immigrants, we defend the very values that make New York strong,” said State Senator Luis Sepulveda, District 32.
“New York has always been a place where immigrants come to work hard, build a life, and contribute to our communities. But fairness under the law only matters if people can actually access it. Investing in immigrant legal services means families have a chance to be heard, due process is protected, and New York continues to stand for opportunity and justice for all,” said State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, District 34.
“Immigrant New Yorkers deserve more than symbolic support — they deserve real protection, real investment, and real justice. At a time when extremist attacks on immigrant communities are escalating across this country, New York must lead the fight by passing the Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act and including $175 million for immigration legal services in the state budget. We cannot build a just New York while leaving working-class immigrant families to fend for themselves in a system designed to break them,” said Assemblymember Steven Raga, District 30.
“When ICE vigilantes are terrorizing our communities and tearing families apart, New York State has a duty to protect immigrant New Yorkers and fight for the rule of law. Ensuring robust and equitable access to legal representation and due process for people facing deportation is an essential first step. We must pass the Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act and commit to including $175 million in the state’s final budget to fund immigration legal services. Our communities can't wait for this protection — they need it now. We must stand up to Trump and fight back against the mass kidnappings and deportations we're seeing,” said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, District 50
“We must invest in our immigrant communities to address the urgent need for legal representation. Access to counsel can be the difference between keeping families together or facing deportation, between stability and uncertainty. As Chair of the Task Force on New Americans, I believe every New Yorker deserves the chance to be heard, to navigate the legal system with dignity, and to defend their rights,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, District 57.
“As federal attacks on immigrant communities continue to escalate, New York cannot stand on the sidelines. We must ensure that no immigrant faces deportation alone. Including immigration legal services in the state’s final budget is a consequential thing we can do right now to protect immigrant New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Micah Lasher, District 69.
“New York has always been a place where immigrants arrive with courage, determination, and the hope of building a better life for their families. That promise only holds true if our systems are fair and accessible to everyone. No one should be forced to stand alone in immigration court simply because they cannot afford a lawyer. Investing $175 million in immigrant legal services is about protecting families, defending due process, and standing firmly for the values that define our state. When we ensure access to legal representation, we are sending a clear message: every New Yorker deserves dignity, opportunity, and the chance to build a future with stability, safety, and hope,” said Assemblymember Manny de los Santos, District 72.
“In a time when rule of law itself is constantly under assault, funding legal aid services and passing basic protections for our immigrant neighbors are more important than ever. The legislature must act now or be judged by future generations for failing to meet a critical and dark moment in American history,” said Assemblymember Alex Bores, District 73.
“At a time when immigrant families are facing fear and uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we ensure access to legal counsel and due process. Investing in immigration legal services and advancing the Access to Representation and BUILD Acts will help protect families, and reaffirm that justice in New York should never depend on someone’s ability to afford a lawyer,” said Assemblymember Amy Paulin, District 88.
"Under the Trump-Vance regime, we are witnessing unconscionable violations of human and civil rights. It is imperative that we stand up and defend the constitutional rights of every single human being on American soil, or we will lose these rights. The Access to Representation and BUILD Acts are essential to helping us win this fight. If we do not guarantee a right to representation in these cases and fund immigrant legal defense, we will be complicit in what is shaping up to be one of the darkest chapters in United States history,” said Assemblymember Dana Levenberg, District 95.
“Every year, thousands of immigrant children in New York are forced to navigate one of the most complex legal systems in the country without a lawyer. Right now, whether a child stays safe often depends on whether they can find an attorney in time. We’re encouraged that the Senate and Assembly recognized the urgency of this moment by proposing $175 million for immigration legal services in the One House budgets. Now New York must follow through by passing the Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act so children and families have a fair chance to be heard in court,” said Sierra Kraft, Executive Director, ICARE Coalition.
“Across New York, legal providers are working tirelessly to help immigrants navigate one of the most complex court systems in the country, yet the demand for support continues to far outpace available resources. The Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act represent the difference between a patchwork system that leaves people to fend for themselves and a stronger network of organizations that can provide legal assistance statewide. Committing $175 million in the final budget would lock in protections that will outlast any administration’s whims, ensuring New Yorkers across the state have support when facing a system with enormous consequences for their futures,” said Ellen Pachnanda, CEO, Immigrant ARC.
"In a time when immigrant New Yorkers are facing unprecedented threats to their safety, the need for state-level action has never been more critical. The New York State Legislature has shown incredible leadership by proposing a $175 million investment for immigration legal services in the one-house budgets. This kind of investment will make New York a national leader in defending the rights of immigrants. We need to move forward with the full $175 million and pass the Access to Representation Act and BUILD Act to protect the rights of immigrants so they can stay with their families, work, go to school, and remain in their communities,” said Karin Anderson Ponzer, Director of Legal Services, Neighbors Link.
“As immigrant families continue to be swept up in the administration’s cruel federal deportation machine, New York is leading the nation by investing $175 million in immigration legal services in their one-house budgets that will protect due process and access to justice. Securing this $175 million in immigration legal services and passing the Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act will ensure that more New Yorkers facing deportation can defend their rights and keep their families together. With the one-house budgets, lawmakers have shown that New York can meet this moment with the leadership and courage needed to defend immigrant communities and due process for all. As the final budget takes shape, we look forward to securing this urgently needed investment to benefit our communities,” said Kelsey Pirnak, advocacy manager for the Vera Institute of Justice's Advancing Universal Representation Initiative.