“The 2017 budget is a disappointment for our four million immigrant New Yorkers, at a time when President Trump’s Muslim bans, deportation threats, and proposed budget cuts have directly threatened our communities. Although we are pleased with the IDC’s historic investment of $10 million for critical immigration services, there remain unaddressed gaps in legal services, undocumented youth have been excluded from the Excelsior Scholarship, and the budget did not address other important issues such as adult education.

Steven Choi, Executive Director of NYIC, responds to recent ruling in favor of IDNYC:

“The New York Immigration Coalition is thrilled with the judge's ruling allowing the City to properly safeguard the privacy and personal documents of IDNYC cardholders, including the tens of thousands of New York's immigrants who have benefited greatly from all of the City's resources.

In another victory for immigrant communities and advocates, Federal District Judge Derrick Watson in Hawai’i extended his order blocking President Trump’s “Muslim and refugee” ban indefinitely. Earlier this month, President Trump issued his “Muslim Ban 2.0,” a second attempt at an executive order barring refugee resettlement for up to four months, stopping travel from six Muslim-majority countries, and limiting the U.S refugee resettlement quota to 50,000 refugees per year.

Car seat violation leads to arrest; Police with dogs, batons, pepper spray engage peaceful protester

Last night, the Geneseo Police Department pulled over a car, separating five children from their family, ultimately turning over two mothers and their 12 year old brother to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Today, Governor Cuomo announced his Liberty Defense Project, a program which proposes to offer pro-bono legal services and other resources to immigrants regardless of their status.

New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director, Steven Choi, released the following statement:

"There looks like there’s not a single public dollar that goes to legal defense, which stands in sharp contrast to other states that are leading the way against the anti-immigrant onslaught from the federal government.

On Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Mark-Viverito, Chancellor Fariña, and Commissioner Agarwal announced new guidance to schools around requests for access to schools and records by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Key provisions of the guidance include: sending the ICE officer outside the school while ICE’s paperwork is checked, requiring the principal to consult with the Senior Field Counsel before responding to ICE, notifying the parent after consulting with the Senior Field Counsel, and requiring judicial warrants as access criteria.

Yesterday, in a narrow 19-17 vote, the U.S. House Budget Committee voted to send the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to the floor of the House of Representatives.

The following is a statement from Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition:

“Yesterday, Representative John Faso had the opportunity to stand up for all New Yorkers by voting no on the American Health Care Act, a bill that would be a disaster for New Yorkers, including the millions of immigrants who now depend on the guarantee of quality, affordable health coverage that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides.

In a decision released earlier today, U.S. federal Judge Derrick Watson ruled to issue a temporary restraining order on President Trump’s second "Muslim ban.” The executive order would have banned travel for individuals from six Muslim-majority countries and halted the country's refugee resettlement program.

The U.S. House Budget Committee is expected to vote this week on the American Health Care Act, the Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.

The following is a statement from Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition:

“As the sole New York member of the Republican majority on the House Budget Committee, Congressman John Faso should to stand up for all New Yorkers by voting against advancing the American Health Care Act (AHCA) out of committee.

In aftermath of Federal Executive Orders on Immigration, New York’s Immigrant Communities Need Services More Than Ever

Today, legal service providers and advocates came together at Foley Square to urge State and City elected leaders to provide the necessary funding in their respective budgets for immigration legal services.