New York, NY—Today, the Department of Homeland Security published a proposed new rule impacting our humanitarian policy system. This rule would permit Asylum Officers to consider bars to asylum during the initial screening process, which occurs just days after an individual is encountered.

New York, NY—Today, Congress passed the GOP’s Equal Representation Act (ERA), which would require the inclusion of a citizenship question in the decennial census. The bill was approved with 206 yes votes from Republicans and 202 no votes from Democrats.

New York, NY—Today, the Biden administration announced that active Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients would soon be able to enroll in the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance. According to the Centers for Medicine and Medicaid Services, the new rule will result in an estimated 100,000 newly eligible DACA recipients enrolled in a healthcare plan.

Albany, NY—A statewide coalition of more than thirty organizations has announced support for an “Enhanced Automatic Voter Registration (AVR)” bill. The legislation, led by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (S8572) and Assemblymember Karines Reyes (A9732) would build on recent efforts to modernize the state’s election system and improve New York’s substandard participation rate in elections compared to other states.

New York, NY—Today, Mayor Eric Adams released his $111.6 billion FY25 Executive Budget. 

Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:

“Although Mayor Adams is willing to acknowledge contributions immigrant communities have made to our city, he consistently chooses shortsighted fiscal policies that will impoverish and divide us.

Albany, NY—The New York State Legislature and Governor Hochul are poised to enact a $237 billion budget for FY25, including $2.4 billion for new arrivals. This includes a $64.2 million restoration for legal services funding, $324M million for the Supplemental Empire State Child Credit Payment for lower and middle income families who are currently cut out of the permanent Empire State Child Credit (ESCC), and $9.8 million for Adult Literacy Education (ALE). The Housing Voucher Access Program (HAVP), Coverage for All (C4A) and Language Access Expansion were excluded from the budget.

CARE for Immigrant Families Says $150 Million Is Needed for Immigration Legal Services—Along with Passage of the Access to Representation Act—to Protect New Yorkers from Deportation, Family Separations

ALBANY – Today, lawmakers allocated $64.2 million for immigrant legal services in the Fiscal Year 2025 New York State budget.

New York, NY—Today, New York City Mayor Eric Adams along with New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced $514 million in funding for education programs for FY25 that had previously been paid for with federal stimulus funding. This includes $6 million for translation and interpretation services, $17 million for coordinators for students in temporary housing in schools and shelters, $10 million for bilingual programs and $17 million for literacy and dyslexia programs.

New York—Today, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), elected officials, member organizations, allies, and immigrant New Yorkers celebrate the passage of the Language Access Expansion Act in the New York State Senate.

Championed by Senator Tim Kennedy (D-63), the State Senate moved to pass the Language Access Expansion Act (S.3381-A / A.7235), extending the current Language Access policy.

New York, NY—Today, the New York City Council released data showing the negative impacts on childrens’ schooling caused by Mayor Adams’ 60-day asylum seeker family shelter eviction policy. As of March 3, roughly one in five asylum seeker children whose families have received eviction notices were forced to leave the school they were previously attending.