New York, NY—Today, Mayor de Blasio and the New York City Council touted an FY 2021 New York City budget they claimed delivered the $1 billion cut to funding for the New York Police Department (NYPD) demanded by advocates. Nearly half of the cut relies on a budgetary sleight of hand.
Cost-Shifting and Manipulation Mask City Budget’s Failure to Defund NYPD
SCOTUS Allows Massive Expansion of Trump’s Deportation Machine
Washington, DC-In a 7-2 majority opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court authorized the expedited removal of people requesting asylum without the possibility of judicial review. Expedited removal, enacted in the anti-immigrant federal legislation passed in 1996, shortens the deportation process into a few weeks and undermines immigrants’ access to due process.
As City Hall Blocks Cuts to NYPD, Advocates Launch Ad Slamming de Blasio for Betraying Promise to Reform Police
New York, NY—Today, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) released a blistering ad laying out Mayor de Blasio’s multiple failures to reform the New York Police Department (NYPD). The video features footage of the Mayor juxtaposed with victims of police violence, like Eric Garner and others.
In Newest Immigration ‘Ban’, Trump Reveals Inability to Address Crises Facing Americans
Washington, DC-President Trump is expected to sign an order later today temporarily preventing foreign nationals with H1B, L-1, H2B, or J-1 status from entering the United States. The new restrictions would last at least until the end of the year and will not apply to visa-holders already in the U.S., or those outside the country who have already been issued valid visas, and some categories of foreign nationals (e.g., healthcare workers).
Today’s executive order appears to build on Trump’s existing immigration bans, including 2017’s Muslim Ban and the more recently enacted order placing a 60-day ban on green cards for most immigrants due to the coronavirus crisis.
VICTORY! SCOTUS Declares Trump’s Termination of DACA Illegal
Washington, DC-In a 5-4 majority opinion the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration’s termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program violated the Administrative Procedure Act and was, thus, unlawful.
Latest Assault on Asylum System Will Cost Lives
Washington, DC-On Monday, a 30-day public comment period began regarding the Trump administration’s 161-page draft regulation that would severely restrict the country’s asylum policies. The proposed rule change is the next front of the administration’s assault on the country’s humanitarian immigration system.
Eighth Anniversary of DACA Program Comes as SCOTUS to Decide Dreamers’ Future
New York, NY-Today marks the eighth anniversary of President Barack Obama's historic Rose Garden speech announcing the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The DACA program allowed hundreds of thousands of young people to come out of the shadow, and apply for work authorization and protection from deportation for recurring two-year periods.
Advocates Applaud Council’s Efforts to #DefundNYPD, Urge Mayor to Adopt Proposal
New York, NY—Today, the New York City Council released a concrete budget proposal containing a $1 billion cut to the NYPD’s annual $6 billion budget. The reductions would come from removing functions like school safety and homeless outreach from the police; reducing the size of the force through a hiring freeze and by not replacing officers who retire; and limiting overtime pay.
In Massive Win for Immigrants, Federal Judge Blocks ICE from Making Arrests at NY Courthouses
New York, NY-Today, Judge Jed S. Rakoff, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, declared Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) policy of courthouse arrests to be illegal and enjoined ICE from making arrests of anyone on the grounds of New York State courthouses or of anyone required to travel to a courthouse as a party or witness to a lawsuit.
Desperately Needed Change Comes to Albany But More Must Be Done, Say Immigrant and Criminal Justice Advocates
Albany, NY-Today, the New York State legislature, under the leadership of Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, passed several pieces of legislation related to police reform, including: a repeal of Section 50-a, which blocks the public release of police disciplinary records, new body camera requirements for state and local police, and the codification of the role of a special prosecutor in the attorney general’s office.