NEW YORK CITY ADVOCACY

"The financial difficulties of navigating an increasingly expensive immigration system play a key role in shaping our clients’ experiences with housing, employment, and mental health. Most notably, the decision to rescind federal filing fee waivers and addition of annual fees for essential document submissions has devastating impacts on the wellbeing of folks like our clients."

"The Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Budget presents significant concerns regarding the future of critical immigrant and community support programs...impacting vital services such as the English Learning & Support Centers and the Immigration Legal Support Hotline. New York City must continue to protect the rights of its immigrant residents by restoring and expanding funding for these programs, rather than scaling them back."

"To effectively support and protect these vulnerable populations, it is also critical to connect them with adequate legal resources and services that provide language support and cultural competency. These services not only ensure that youth have access to crucial legal protections and pathways to residency or asylum, but also help them navigate complex immigration systems with guidance and support."

"By integrating youth-specific immigration legal services into DYCD shelters, we can empower
immigrant youth to secure their rights, advocate for their safety, and ultimately transition into stable housing. This self-sufficiency is essential for emerging adults like our clients, who are currently working to become part of the culture and workforce of our city."

"We urge the committees to pass Resolution 0929, calling on the NYS legislature and governor to sign the Protect Our Schools Act. This crucial legislation would shield students, faculty and staff from civil arrest while attending or participating in school activities."

"In order to provide needed services, we need the Trans Equity Initiative Funding to be increased to a minimum of ten million dollars. As those who are closest to the problem are closest to the solution, we encourage NYCC to prioritize using the Trans Equity Funding Initiative to support and grow trans-led organizations."

"In order to rectify this form of racial and gendered discrimination in NY school systems, the Committee must establish gender, race, and body type neutral dress codes [and] increase data collection on DOE dress codes."

"The capacity strain at the Commission has a direct impact on the lives of low-income New Yorkers, especially for our clients, who are most vulnerable because of their age, homelessness and minority status. On average, pro se callers wait six months to get an intake appointment to speak with an agency attorney. During this time, the statute of limitations for their claims may run out, leaving their situation unaddressed. This leaves young people, like our clients, with no legal avenue or remedy to pursue when they experience discrimination and homelessness in the city."