New York, NY—On Wednesday, June 10, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), member organizations, immigrant New Yorkers, and elected officials rallied and held a press conference on the City Hall Steps, urging the NYC Mayor and New York City Council to protect and invest in the life-saving essential services and public programs that immigrant New Yorkers rely on amid escalating attacks from the federal government.
As the Trump administration advances its mass deportation agenda and seeks to dismantle critical federal programs that help working-class families meet their basic needs, from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to Medicaid, immigrant New Yorkers across the state are facing heightened fear, instability, and uncertainty.
Advocates called on NYC Council and the Mamdani administration to meet this moment with bold action by allocating $188M for immigration legal services, passing the NYC Know Your Rights Act (Intro 55) to strengthen protections for immigrant New Yorkers, $4.5M to Access Health NYC to provide culturally-appropriate information on accessing health services, and continuing the funding of $5.8 million for the Community Interpreter Bank and the worker-owned language service cooperatives.
New York City must act with urgency to ensure strong protections and public informational resources for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, to ensure the stability of New York families, communities, and the city’s economy.
The rally was streamed on Twitter
“New York City is the strongest when every family has the opportunity to live with dignity, safety, and stability. As the Trump administration escalates its mass deportation agenda, slashes essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and fuels a climate of fear through aggressive immigration enforcement, working-class families are facing growing uncertainty and instability. New York City must act with urgency. We are calling on New York City to invest $188 million in immigration legal services, sustain funding for the Community Interpreter Bank, and strengthen access to critical health and social programs. By making these investments, New York City can protect the well-being of all who call it home,” said Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.
“New York City has a long history of building and re-affirming strong sanctuary city policies. In order to uphold those policies, we need public education and we need funding for the legal providers that step in to protect New Yorkers in their most vulnerable moments. Last year, our Council fought to ensure we expanded funding for legal services as the Trump administration escalated attacks on our neighborhoods. Still, providers have been overwhelmed with demand, and anyone can see that the funding is not nearly enough. As we move to pass the NYC Know Your Rights Act tomorrow, which will hang informational signage in government buildings to inform New Yorkers of their legal rights when engaging with immigration enforcement, I am proud to continue our public education campaign. However, I know it will not be enough alone to protect New Yorkers. We must ensure funding for legal services is baselined and expanded, and we must make sure the NYC Know Your Rights Act is implemented in full,” saidCouncilmember Alexa Avilés, District 38.
“New York City must be a place where every neighbor, regardless of immigration status or the language they speak, can access safety, legal support, and essential services with dignity. As the Trump administration escalates its attacks on immigrant communities and working-class families, our city has a responsibility to meet this moment with real protections. That means fully funding immigration legal services, passing Intro 55, and maintaining the Community Interpreter Bank so that immigrant New Yorkers are not left to navigate fear, confusion, and crisis alone,” said Councilmember Christopher Marte, District 1.
"As an immigrant and daughter of immigrants, representing a predominantly immigrant community, we are not progressing when our neighbors feel unsafe showing up to work, appointments, and school because of fear. Until the Trump administration dismantles their ICE deportation machine instead of critical federal safety nets Americans need, we must continue to bolster protections for our immigrant neighbors here in NYC. Immigrants are part of the historical, cultural, and economic fabric of our city, and we cannot turn our backs on them. Allocating funding for additional legal services, language access, and know your rights tools are smart investments that stabilize our communities,” said Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa, District 10.
"New York City has always been strengthened by the contributions of immigrant communities, and at a time when many families face fear and uncertainty, we must ensure they can access the information, services, and legal support they need. Investing in immigration legal services and community-based resources helps families navigate complex systems and maintain access to essential healthcare and social services. These investments build stronger, healthier, and more stable communities for all New Yorkers. I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure our city upholds its values in the upcoming budget," said Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, District 31.
“At a time when immigrant New Yorkers are being targeted by the federal government and facing escalating deportation threats from ICE, our city must do more to protect our neighbors. I support allocating more funding for legal services, language access, and know your rights tools for our immigrant communities,” said Councilmember Lincoln Restler, District 33.
“As an immigrant, I personally understand that language should never be a barrier to accessing the services New Yorkers depend on. In Brooklyn, our neighbors speak dozens of languages, and too often they face closed doors simply because of those barriers. I commend the New York Immigration Coalition and the Language Justice Collaborative for building a critical resource for our bilingual communities, and I am proud to stand with them in expanding language access for every New Yorker,” said Councilmember Susan Zhuang, District 43.
"As the Trump Administration escalates its attacks on immigrant communities and continues efforts to dismantle critical programs that help working families meet their basic needs, New York City must respond with urgency, compassion, and action. Families in my district cannot afford to wait for a crisis caused by aggressive federal enforcement before we put safeguards in place. We must invest in immigration legal services, strengthen protections for immigrant New Yorkers in our public institutions, and ensure language is never a barrier to accessing services and opportunities. New York's budget and policies must reflect the reality that immigrant families are an essential part of our city, and I stand with advocates and community leaders in demanding the investments necessary to protect their rights, preserve their dignity, and keep our communities safe and strong," said Councilmember Farah N. Louis, District 45.
"Thanks to President Trump's federal government, immigrant New Yorkers are under attack. The city can't change federal policy, but we can and should use city dollars to defend our communities from its worst impacts. My office and I are not only proud supporters of immigrant communities throughout our district and the whole city, but also frequent and satisfied users of the Community Interpreter Bank program. Expanding protections and access for immigrants in the city budget is simply the right thing to do, and I urge my colleagues throughout city government to join us in this endeavor," said Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso, District 47.
"Nonprofits play a key role in NYC's public health, but continued funding is critical as community needs escalate and changes to federal programs create increased uncertainty, fear, and confusion amongst already-vulnerable communities. Access Health NYC has proven to be an indispensable lifeline for immigrant and limited-English-proficient New Yorkers navigating an uncertain healthcare and information landscape. We urge Speaker Julie Menin and the City Council to enhance funding for the initiative to $4.5 million in the FY27 budget. This increased investment will allow us to maintain vital, culturally tailored language access and culturally accessible services – which is key to a healthier city for us all,” said Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Directors, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.
“As ICE agents continue to detain immigrants inside New York City’s immigration courts, our rapid response initiative and Pro Se Plus Project, funded in part by the City Council, have successfully supported hundreds of immigrants facing unjust and unlawful detention for simply pursuing their asylum claims. NYLAG’s constant presence ensures that many immigrants have a fighting chance to be heard and remain in New York, but with ICE’s presence only growing, NYLAG and our sister organizations must receive continued support from the City to ensure the security and fair treatment of all immigrant New Yorkers,” said Lisa Rivera, CEO & President, New York Legal Assistance Group.