Last month, Donald Trump announced his nomination of Lee Francis Cissna, current director of immigration policy at the Department of Homeland Security, to lead U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Ahead of today’s confirmation hearing, investigative news outlet ProPublica released letters written by Cissna that demonstrate his intent to implement the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda by dismantling critical immigration programs.
In response to new data released by ICE, the New York Immigration Coalition held a press conference and day of action at City Hall.
The New York Immigration Coalition joined elected officials and advocates on Monday to urge the City Council and Mayor to include $21.4 million in funding for immigrant legal services in the final budget, in order to address the major uptick in immigration arrests happening nationwide.
Today, Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly announced his plan to temporarily extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Haitians by only six months. Tiffany Wheatland-Disu, Community Outreach Manager at the NYIC, responded:
"We appreciate that this administration acknowledges the clear and compelling evidence supporting extension of TPS for the more than 55,000 Haitians living lawful, productive lives and contributing over $3 billion to the US economy.
According to new data provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), immigration arrests are up nearly 40% since Trump signed an executive order on immigration enforcement, and more than half include people without a criminal record.
In response, Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition issued the following statement:
“It is a senseless use of law enforcement resources to police working people who pay taxes and are members of our communities.
Last week the State Education Department (SED) released its draft Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan. In the draft (page 133), SED commits to creating official engagement guidelines with an emphasis on engaging parents and families of students identified as English Language Learners (ELLs)/Multilingual Learners (MLLs), immigrant, migrant and homeless.
Today Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to speak with the Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly, about a recent incident in which a federal agent from USCIS visited a public school in Queens. In response, Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition issued the following statement:
“Although it appears that Thursday’s events were not an enforcement action, it demonstrates how important it is for the Department of Education to have these protocols in place to protect every student in New York City, regardless of immigration status.
Earlier this month Mayor de Blasio unveiled a $16.4 million legal services plan as a part of his executive budget which would provide undocumented immigrants facing deportation and other proceedings legal representation.
The Mayor later revealed that this funding would not be provided for immigrants in removal proceedings who have been convicted of certain crimes.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday, 217-213, to approve the American Health Care Act. The following is a statement from Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition:
"The House of Representatives voted Thursday to rob health care from 2.7 million New Yorkers and give a huge tax break to the rich.
During his first 100 days in office, President Trump and his administration have attacked immigrant communities in the United States through a sweeping set of executive actions. These actions have included unconstitutional Muslim bans, efforts to stop refugee admissions, and increased immigration deportation and raids.
On Wednesday, Mayor de Blasio released an $84.9 billion budget for New York City against a backdrop of uncertainty from the Federal government. Steve Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said:
"The New York Immigration Coalition applauds NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commitment to investing an unprecedented 16.4 million in legal services for people facing deportation and detention, unaccompanied children, and asylum seekers.
