Press Releases
Immigrant ARC Responds to the Official FY25 City Budget
New York, NY - July 1, 2024 - Immigrant ARC and our members tirelessly advocated for crucial programs, and we are grateful to Speaker Adrienne Adams and our champions in City Council for securing an additional $4.4 million for immigration legal services for low-income New Yorkers and standing firm and successfully fighting off threats to funding cuts for these vital immigration services.
In response to the release of the FY25 NY City Budget, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“Providing access to legal help is the best way to ensure that immigrants can obtain long-term status, work authorization, and access to resources that will include them in our cultural, civic, and economic life. It is thanks to the tireless advocacy by legal service providers, immigrant organizers, and our allies in City Council that we were able to win this additional $4.4 million in essential immigration services and defend existing programs from the threat of budget cuts. The wins in our FY25 City Budget are a crucial step to supporting our longstanding immigrant communities and ensuring that our newest neighbors do not fall through the cracks of our immigration system. But we continue to urge our City administration to move past emergency response, move towards building long-term immigration legal infrastructure, work in coordination with legal advocates, and ensure that all our immigrant New Yorkers, are receiving the tools they need to flourish alongside our City.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS URGE MAYOR ADAMS TO PROPERLY FUND IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
June 25, 2024
Hon. Eric Adams
Mayor of the City of New York
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
C.C
First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright
Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom
Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar
Commissioner Manuel Castro
Budget Director Jacques Jiha
RE: IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS URGE MAYOR ADAMS TO PROPERLY FUND IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
Dear Mayor Adams,
Immigrant ARC is a coalition of over 80 member organizations providing legal services across the state of New York. Our mission is to increase access to justice and legal counsel for immigrant New Yorkers by mobilizing New York’s legal service providers and addressing the systemic barriers to justice that immigrants face. Our members hold deep expertise in the complex experiences of New York immigrants navigating our country’s immigration agencies.
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, members, and partners of Immigrant ARC (I-ARC), we urge your administration to meet the needs of the moment and properly fund immigration legal services in the FY25 City Budget and City agencies, like the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, to coordinate closely with New York City’s legal service providers and community-based organizations as we address the legal needs of our immigrant communities. We have outlined below our priorities and recommendations for the budget:
Invest $58 million for immigration legal services to ensure that immigrants receive continuity of services and no one falls through the cracks of our complex and punitive immigration system. The breakdown of the funding goes to the following city-wide initiatives:
$31 million for the Mayor’s Immigrant Opportunities Initiative––funding that has been repeatedly threatened by budget cuts which puts at risk crucial programs like Action NYC and the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative.
$16.6 million for the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP), a first-in-the-nation program that provides free immigration legal services to low-income New Yorkers.
$5.7 million for ICARE, which provides representation to unaccompanied minors and families in removal proceedings.
$3.3 million for CUNY Citizenship Now!, which provides free legal services to people on their path to citizenship.
$2.6 million for the City Council’s Immigrant Opportunities Initiative (IOI), which provides legal services to recently arrived immigrants to assist them in applications for citizenship or permanent residency.
Invest an additional $50 million to support emergency immigration legal services to meet the needs of the City’s newest immigrant residents as recommended by the City Council.
Invest $1 million in a pilot program to provide immigration legal services clients with wraparound and holistic case management services. The pilot program would:
Fill the social services gap for immigrant communities seeking legal aid, including by allowing legal service providers to hire social workers to work with them on individual cases.
Include case management and representation assistance to help immigrant New Yorkers navigate housing supports, benefits, education, and health care systems.
Invest in organizations through multi-year contracts that streamline reporting and administrative requirements so that organizations get paid timely and can focus their capacity on substantive work instead of contract management.
For immigration services, fund nonprofit legal services providers and community-based organizations, which have greater experience, have stronger ties to the communities they serve, and have greater language capacity than for-profit corporations.
Prioritize wraparound services and ensure a more holistic continuum of care by investing in partnerships between Community-Based Organizations and Legal Services Providers.
Ensure greater transparency and coordination from city agencies with legal service providers and community-based organizations (CBO) regarding city-wide immigration services, like the Asylum Application Help Center (AAHC).
Fund long-term representation alongside emergency rapid response services that focus on both new arrivals and long-time immigrant New Yorkers. It is crucial that funding focuses on both lower touch/higher volume clinics as well as comprehensive intakes, so that immigrants are comprehensively screened for all forms of immigration relief, receive crucial social services, and do not fall through the cracks, which contributes to a state of constant crisis management.
Remove immigration legal services funding carve-outs to ensure the City does not doubly punish and fail community members who need access to legal aid most in our complex immigration system.
End all transfers and communications between the DOC and ICE. Expand City prohibitions to completely block the provision of information and transfer of people to ICE custody.
Pass Intro 214, a key bill in the ICE Out! NYC package, which seeks to prohibit NYC local agencies from conspiring with federal immigration agencies in the detention and deportation of immigrant communities. The bill would create accountability––a system for immigrants to take legal action to enforce their rights when our city agencies ignore or misinterpret our local laws.
Sincerely,
Immigrant ARC
Emerald Isle Immigration Center
ICARE Coalition
New York Immigration Coalition
Immigrant Defense Project
Vera Institute Of Justice
Safe Passage Project
New York Civil Liberties Union
Safe Horizon
New York Lawyers For The Public Interest
Caribbean Women's Health Association
Central American Legal Assistance
The Door's Legal Services Center
Bronxworks
Her Justice, Inc.
Afghans For A Better Tomorrow
Brooklyn Immigrant Community Support
Envision Freedom Fund
Acacia Center For Justice
Catholic Migration Services
Immigrant ARC Responds to Biden’s Executive Action Protecting Immigrant Families
New York, NY - June 18, 2024 - Today, President Biden issued an Executive Action, which provides protections to hundreds of thousands of immigrant families who have until now had little to no relief from deportation nor had access to potential avenues to citizenship. This action grants parole for spouses of U.S Citizens who have lived at least 10 years in the country, and helps DACA recipients access employment visas.
In response to Biden’s Executive Action, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“We are grateful to see President Biden taking these crucial steps to fix our woefully broken immigration system and offer hundreds of thousands of people, many who have lived in this country for decades, long awaited immigration relief and protection from the constant threat of deportation. But we also urge the Biden Administration and Congress to continue fixing our outdated immigration system and fighting back against xenophobic attacks on our immigrant communities––it is crucial that we protect the right to asylum, expand and redesignate TPS for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Venezuela, Mali, and Mauritania, designate Ecuador and Congo, and get Deferred Enforcement of Departure for Guatemala– to continue offering immigration relief for long-term undocumented immigrants.”
Immigrant ARC is encouraged to see that the Biden Administration has taken steps to finally allow avenues to citizenship to the hundreds of thousands of vulnerable undocumented and mixed status immigrant families who have lived in this country for years building their lives, working, starting businesses, and contributing to their communities while under constant risk of deportation and family separation.
The White House estimates that there are roughly 500,000 undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens who would be eligible for this program. There are many misconceptions surrounding our immigration system and the availability of pathways to residency and citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Due to outdated and punitive immigration policy, undocumented immigrants who marry a United States citizen are barred from adjusting their status unless they leave the United States for years and leave behind their families. This is why millions, facing this impossible choice, often decide to stay in the United States and remain undocumented, even though this leaves them with no ability to work legally and at constant risk of deportation. Today’s executive action fixes this cruel bureaucratic reality by giving undocumented spouses of United States citizens protection from deportation, allowing them to obtain work authorization, as well as ease their path to permanent resident status. Protecting long-term undocumented residents with immigration relief is not only the morally correct choice––it also allows a whole group of people to obtain long-term status, work authorization, and access to resources that will include them in our cultural, civic, and economic life. If we ensure that our immigrant communities have the tools they need to flourish, our country will grow and flourish with them.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Condemns Executive Action on the Border
New York, NY - June 4, 2024 - Today, President Biden signed an executive action that places severe and inhumane limits on migrants’ access to asylum at the United States’ southern border with Mexico. The action also states that when the daily average of encounters at the border surpasses 2,500, authorities can rapidly deport asylum seekers back to their home countries if they are seeking asylum between ports of entry––effectively closing the border for short periods of time.
Immigrant ARC unequivocally condemns this action and is outraged by President Biden’s craven decision to revert to the previous administration’s discriminatory practices and appease the anti-immigrant voices in Congress who have been attacking the right to asylum for months. It is morally bankrupt of the Biden administration and Congress to sacrifice the rights of people who have been displaced by political instability, climate change, poverty, corruption, and violence, much of which can be tied to past US government intervention, and who have to go through unimaginable danger to find safety, for political gain.
We urge President Biden and Congress to stop engaging with this false fear-based narrative of danger at our borders and respond to the actual needs of our country and immigration system. Our immigration system is broken and it is not only failing our country’s immigrants but is also failing our country. The United States could benefit massively by opening the door to new innovators, entrepreneurs, doctors, nurses, and military personnel, not to mention workers in all agricultural, industrial, and service industries. This is why instead of further closing the few avenues for immigration relief and creating tortuous bottlenecks in our immigration process––our country should be creating new more expansive legal pathways, simplifying our entry procedures at the border, and ensuring our nation continues its legacy as a thriving home to immigrants.
Let us be clear, people fleeing have a legal right to apply for asylum based on US law, and decisions like today’s set our country back and make it that much more difficult to make the meaningful changes needed.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant Help NY, A Community Resource Website for all!
New York, NY - May 8, 2024 - Immigrant ARC is pleased to announce the launch of, “Immigrant Help NY,” our new community website! In partnership with Zendesk, a customer experience (CX) software company, and with the generous support of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, we created “Immigrant Help NY,” a space where all New York State immigrant community members can access information on immigration, housing, employment, and other programs. We hope this will also be a helpful tool for everyone navigating the complex immigration judicial system. The objective is to be a resource to those seeking reliable information and for this information to be in a centralized location. In line with this goal, the website will include a new interactive map that shows immigration legal service providers across all of Upstate New York launched today. The map results from a collaboration between Cornell Law School’s Farmworker Legal Assistance Clinic and I-ARC.
We are already working on an expanded version of the website to augment the pro se and limited scope services being developed across the City, State, and Country and to enhance support and resources for immigrants navigating the immigration legal system without representation. Partner organizations who would like to have their content featured on the website can reach out to outreach@immigrantarc.org. We look forward to growing “Immigrant Help NY” with all partners!
Website link: www.ImmigrantHelpNY.org
Camille J. Mackler, Esq., Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
We are proud to offer this resource to our newest neighbors in the hopes that it will make navigating our State and establishing their new homes a little easier. As we continue to advocate for increased resources for organizations so that they can better meet the needs of newly arrived and long-time resident immigrants alike, we hope that this guide will help provide a one-stop shop for information and allow immigrants to actively participate in their cases. Even as we and our partners have struggled to meet the increasing needs for our services and support, we continue to be blown away by everyday New Yorkers’ desire to assist those seeking to call New York home. We hope the information and tools show the rest of the world what New York’s welcoming spirit is truly about.
Reina Fostyk, Legal Fellow & Mohawk Valley Region Project Director, Farmworker Legal Assistance Clinic at Cornell Law School, made the following statement:
The map was created to address an information gap regarding what immigration legal service providers are dedicated to serving which counties upstate," says Reina Fostyk, legal fellow and Mohawk Valley region project director in the clinic. "I’ve seen immigrants and invested community members upstate struggle with knowing who to connect with for legal services. And I’ve seen those service providers not know who to refer clients to in other areas. We hope this powerful new tool will help make all of these connections easier. Reina Fostyk, Legal Fellow & Mohawk Valley Region Project Director, Farmworker Legal Assistance Clinic at Cornell Law School
Liza Primeau, Managing Director of Programs at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, made the following statement:
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is proud to support Immigrant ARC’s project to streamline and increase access to the wide variety of supports and services available to New York’s vital immigrant communities. The Foundation is committed to ensuring every New Yorker’s basic needs are met, and we believe the new Immigrant Help NY website will be a vital tool in this effort.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
NYS Budget's Immigrant Services Funding Shortfall Jeopardizes Family Protection & Community Stability
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, April 20, 2024 – In last night’s New York State budget agreement, lawmakers allocated $64.2 million for immigrant legal services. This investment falls short of the $150 million required to ensure the long-term well-being of New Yorkers facing deportation and family separation, particularly as the state has welcomed additional asylum seekers and the number of people who have been left to fight deportation alone has more than doubled. The CARE for Immigrant Families coalition is doubling down on its campaign this session for the passage of the Access to Representation Act (ARA) to ensure the right to legal representation in immigration cases is enshrined in state law.
Camille Mackler, executive director of Immigrant ARC, said:
“While we are thankful for our champions, Senator Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, and our supporters for fighting hard for our immigrant communities––$64.2 million for immigration legal services allocated in the FY25 New York State Budget in no way meets the need of the moment. In fact, with current inflation trends, this is a net decrease in support that will not only prevent providers from increasing capacity to meet existing needs but puts them at risk of reducing services. Coupled with the continued attempts to defund other civil legal service supports, we are concerned by the lack of support from our government leaders at this critical juncture. New York’s lawmakers have repeatedly referred to the increase in the number of migrants seeking asylum as a ‘crisis’, but the only reason this is a ‘crisis’ is because our government is making it one. Our State lawmakers should see our longstanding immigrant communities and our new arrivals as an opportunity to strengthen our State. Continuing this endless cycle of emergency response overburdens our legal service providers and denies our immigrant New Yorkers the resources they need to successfully navigate our complex immigration system. If we want New York to flourish we must properly fund long-term immigration services, so that immigrants can obtain long-term status, work authorization, and access to resources that will include them in our cultural, civic, and economic life.”
Shayna Kessler, associate director for advocacy at the Vera Institute of Justice's Advancing Universal Representation initiative, said:
“As people increasingly face the threat of deportation and family separation, $64.2 million for immigrant legal services fails to address New Yorkers’ current need for a humane response and practical solutions. Neglecting to meaningfully increase investments to protect immigrant communities is a missed opportunity to urgently fund essential services needed to support newcomers seeking safety as well as longterm New Yorkers who are rooted in our communities. This decision endangers the well-being of families and jeopardizes the state's economic stability of communities across New York. We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz in support of immigration legal services investments and we look forward to working with them and their fellow lawmakers to address this missed opportunity by passing the Access to Representation Act to guarantee the right to legal counsel for all New Yorkers facing deportation.”
Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, said:
“New York has historically been a trailblazer for the nation, but in our FY25 budget, Albany is allowing our state to fall behind and lose the opportunity to power ourselves into the future. The $64.2M allocation for immigrant legal services is simply not enough to serve the needs of immigrant New Yorkers. By only slightly increasing from FY24’s allocation, Albany not only shortchanges nearly 200,000 asylum seekers and longstanding immigrant New Yorkers, but lawmakers also impede the state’s ability to foster greater economic growth. Now, immigrant New Yorkers will have to compete for legal services which are critical for fending off deportation and keeping families united. Too many families will also be forced to make the difficult decision between paying for legal representation or feeding their families.
“We thank our bill champions, Senator Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, for their efforts, and urge lawmakers to correct course by passing the Access to Representation Act to deliver long-term relief to our communities and the immigration court system. This critical bill would ensure no New Yorker, whether they’ve been here for 30 days or 30 years, will have to face immigration court alone.”
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About the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families: The Vera Institute of Justice, the New York Immigration Coalition, and Immigrant ARC lead CARE for Immigrant Families, a coalition of more than 100 leading organizations, religious groups, and elected officials united to pass the Access to Representation Act. The bill (S999A/A170A) will guarantee access to legal representation for immigrants at risk of deportation in New York. Sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, the legislation would be the first in the nation to create a statewide right to legal representation for people facing deportation who cannot afford it, whether they have recently arrived in the state or have been New Yorkers for decades.
About Vera Institute of Justice: The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.
About Immigrant ARC: Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system. For more information, visit www.immigrantarc.org.
About New York Immigration Coalition: The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.
Immigrant ARC Responds to Council’s Push for Additional $50M in Funding for Immigration Legal Services
New York, NY - April 5, 2024 - Immigrant ARC is happy to see that, after years of advocacy from community-based organizations, legal service providers, and immigrant rights organizers, the City Council has taken the initiative to meet the needs of the moment and is calling on the Mayor to restore his funding cuts and allocate an additional $50 million for immigration legal services in the FY25 City Budget.
We have let thousands of our newest New Yorkers fall through the cracks of our immigration system for too long. Many are facing our immigration system with no representation, which means they are missing out on legal avenues to immigration relief and access to work authorization. It is clear that the New York City Council understands that for our City to flourish, our newly arriving and longstanding immigrant communities need to be given the tools they need to obtain long-term status, work authorization, and economic stability. The arrival of our new neighbors is an opportunity to build long-term immigration legal infrastructure that would benefit both new migrants and existing immigrant communities and allow people to access legal pathways to immigration. This not only benefits our immigrant communities but NYC as a whole.
Immigrant ARC is in full support of this additional funding in immigration legal services, especially to fund such crucial first-in-the-nation programs like New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP), Action NYC, and the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative, I-CARE, CUNY Citizenship NOW!, and many more, and we urge Mayor Adams to get our city out of a state of rapid response and finally start building long-term wraparound immigration legal infrastructure.
In response to New York City Council’s call for an Additional $50M in Funding for Immigration Legal Services, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“This funding push by the New York City Council is the result of years of advocacy by legal service providers and immigrant organizers. We are proud to stand beside our allies on the City Council and call for the restoration of funding cuts and an additional $50 million in immigration legal services. It is time for Mayor Adams and his Administration to finally get our City out of this constant state of emergency response and properly build long-term immigration legal infrastructure in coordination with legal service providers and community-based organizations. City budgets are moral documents and it is time we prioritize our immigrant neighbors who have for so long strengthened our communities, businesses, and our City with so little support.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Responds to the One-House Budget
New York, NY - March 13, 2024 - Immigrant ARC is grateful to see that the state legislature has allocated some funding in the FY25 NY State Budget for immigration legal services. It is clear our legislators have a sense of how crucial long-term immigration services are to our State. Still, it is not nearly enough to take us out of this cyclical state of emergency response nor to meet the needs of our immigrant communities at this moment. To successfully meet the needs of the moment nothing less than passing the Access to Representation Act (ARA) and including $150 million in funding for immigration legal services in the budget will suffice. This investment should comprise:
$62 million for deportation defense;
$65 million for infrastructure including training, recruitment, retention, & rapid response and;
$23 million for education and integration.
The reality is that legal service providers across New York State have attempted to fill the gap left by our State administration, making herculean efforts to come together to provide rapid response services to meet the needs of our newest neighbors and long-standing immigrant communities. These efforts are only the first step to addressing the current crisis of representation. If we don’t fund long-term immigration legal infrastructure, which allows service providers to hire, educate, and retain experienced attorneys, then countless immigrants will fall through the cracks of our complex immigration system. This investment is not only crucial but long overdue. Studies have shown that having access to legal representation in non-detained cases leads to a 60% increase in positive outcomes, putting immigrant New Yorkers on a fast path to economic stability and growth. It is the only way New York can successfully build long-term immigration legal service infrastructure and allow immigrant New Yorkers to flourish.
In response to the One-House Budget, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“New York’s lawmakers have repeatedly referred to the increase in the number of migrants seeking asylum as a ‘crisis’, but the only reason this is a ‘crisis’ is because our government is making it one. Our State administration has chosen to respond to this moment by putting legal service providers in an endless cycle of rapid response instead of funding long-term immigration legal services that will help us not only meet this moment and turn it into an opportunity, not a challenge, but that will also enable to us to respond to future needs as global displacement continues to rise. Providing access to long-term immigration services is the best way to ensure that immigrants can obtain long-term status, work authorization, and access to resources that will include them in our cultural, civic, and economic life. We urge the New York State legislature to ensure that adequate funding is included in this year’s final budget. ”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Condemns Anti-Immigrant Policies in Supplemental Budget Proposal
New York, NY - February 5, 2024 - Yesterday, after weeks of closed-door negotiations, the Senate released the text of the “Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024,” which reveals a complete surrender by lawmakers to xenophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric, pitting the United States’ asylum process and immigration system against the needs of other vulnerable communities.
In response to the newly released Senate Border Deal, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“As a coalition of legal service providers who work tirelessly to create a semblance of due process in a fundamentally unjust system, we are extremely disappointed in our Congressional leadership for caving to inflammatory rhetoric and giving in to fear. The proposed bill not only puts the United States at odds with our obligations under international law and further diminishes our ability to act as a global leader, if passed it would also ultimately exacerbate the very problem it claims to solve. To meaningfully address the needs at the border, Congress should focus on creating more equitable pathways for all. There are many ways that reduce the current over-reliance on humanitarian protections in favor of allowing individuals and families to come to the United States in a manner that sets us all up for success without sacrificing the core of who we are as a nation. The world's most vulnerable will pay the price for Washington’s decisions today, and history will look back on this moment with shame.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Responds to NYC Mayor Adams’ Preliminary Budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@immigrantarc.org
518-813-1595
New York, NY - January 16, 2024 - Yesterday, Mayor Adams unveiled his $109 billion preliminary budget. While he acknowledged the need for resources and assistance for arriving migrants, Immigrant ARC is troubled by Mayor Adams’ repeated attempts to frame New York City’s existing and new immigrant communities as a burden to taxpayers as well as using them as a scapegoat for his budget austerity. While the City is struggling to fill the needs of its immigrant communities––it will not solve this challenge by forcing migrants out of shelters nor can it solely rely on small, temporary rapid-response clinics; it is crucial that the City fund long term immigration legal services and coordinate closely with its legal service providers and community based organizations.
Immigrant New Yorkers are not a burden, they are our City's greatest strength and resource. Investing in our immigrant communities is not only the morally right move to make, it is also an investment in NYC’s economic future. It is a fact that immigrant New Yorkers are more likely to create jobs, start small businesses, and revitalize our workforce. Providing access to legal help is the best way to ensure that immigrants can obtain long-term status, work authorization, and access to resources that will include them in our cultural, civic, and economic life. It is Immigrant ARC’s recommendation that what is needed is greater transparency from city agencies, strategic coordination from city and state governments with legal service providers, and funding for long-term immigration legal services, which includes the passing of the Access to Representation Act (A170A/S999A) at the state level.
In response to Mayor Adams’ preliminary budget, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“While Mayor Adams’ might claim that arriving migrants are a threat to our City––NYC has always opened its arms to immigrants and has been the better for it. If he really wants to ‘keep our city a beacon of hope’ then it is imperative he stops seeing immigrants as a burden, acknowledges that they are integral to the success of our City, and properly fund long-term immigration legal services.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
http://www.immigrantarc.org
I-ARC and the CARE Coalition Respond to NYS Budget Proposal: Offers Immigrant Services Funding, But Greater Investment Is Needed To Protect Families & Ensure Community Stability
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: press@immigrantarc.org
New York - January 16, 2023 – In New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY 2025 Executive Budget proposal, she included $2.4 billion for shelter and services for immigrants, including a reported $88 million for “asylum and legal services.” This is a much needed investment, but one which still falls short of the resources required to ensure the long-term well-being of immigrant New Yorkers. The CARE for Immigrant Families coalition calls for the governor to support family unity, economic prosperity, and community stability with an investment of $150 million in immigration legal services and the passage of the Access to Representation Act (ARA) to ensure the right to legal representation in immigration cases is enshrined in state law.
Shayna Kessler, associate director for advocacy for the Vera Institute of Justice’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative, said:
“We commend Governor Hochul for recognizing the urgency of supporting immigrant communities and making essential investments in immigration legal services in her Executive Budget proposal. However, the allocated $88 million must be considered as only a starting point and should be earmarked specifically for sustainable immigration legal services for asylum seekers and longtime immigrant New Yorkers. $150 million is necessary to ensure all people who are facing deportation get legal representation. We look forward to working closely with the governor and legislative leaders to secure a more robust investment in legal services and pass the Access to Representation Act.”
Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said:
“Today, Governor Hochul acknowledged that the unprecedented humanitarian situation in New York requires continued support from the state. Her $88 million investment in asylum and immigrant legal services is a step in the right direction but falls short of what is needed to fully support immigrant families and boost legal service provider capacity to meet the needs of all immigrant New Yorkers. This historic moment requires a historic intervention—one that meets today’s needs while creating the infrastructure to meet tomorrow’s demands. Lawmakers in Albany must deliver a $150 million investment in legal services, just 0.006% of the state budget, to make a dent in the backlog of 200,000 pending cases and give immigrant families a fighting chance to remain with their families, stabilize communities and support our economy now and into the future. We look forward to working with Governor Hochul and our legislative leaders to increase investments in legal services and pass the Access to Representation Act this session to ensure the health and stability of New York’s workforce and immigrant families into the future.”
Camille Mackler, executive director of Immigrant ARC, said:
“We are glad to see Governor Hochul is attempting to respond to this crisis of representation and supporting our immigrant communities by allocating $88 million in her Executive Budget for legal services. But as the number of immigrants facing deportation in our immigration courts continues to grow, the delays in accessing work authorization and long-term status hurts New York’s ability to access the numerous economic, cultural, and civic benefits of immigration. In addition, funding that has not kept up with inflation and job market trends makes it hard for existing legal services to meet the ever-growing need. To meet this need and ensure that our immigrant communities get the legal help and resources to survive in New York, we call on the Governor to include $150 million in funding for the implementation of the Access to Representation Act (ARA) in her proposed budget, and to continue to work closely with the non-profit and legal services sectors that have been on the frontline of this response for many years so that New York can be a leader in free community-based legal services."
Correction: A previous version of this press release stated that $88 million was proposed for “asylum and legal services” following Governor Hochul’s budget address the morning of January 16, 2024. The updated version of this press release reflects the text of the Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget Aid to Localities Bill (S8303/A8803) and the $44.2M budget line therein for immigration legal and social services administered by the Office of New Americans.
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About the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families: The Vera Institute of Justice, the New York Immigration Coalition, and Immigrant ARC lead CARE for Immigrant Families, a coalition of more than 100 leading organizations, religious groups, and elected officials united to pass the Access to Representation Act. The bill (S999A/A170A) will guarantee access to legal representation for immigrants at risk of deportation in New York. Sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, the legislation would be the first in the nation to create a statewide right to legal representation for people facing deportation who cannot afford it, whether they have recently arrived in the state or have been New Yorkers for decades.
About Vera Institute of Justice: The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.
About Immigrant ARC: Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system. For more information, visit www.immigrantarc.org.
About New York Immigration Coalition: The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.
Immigrant ARC Responds to Governor Hochul’s State of the State Address
New York, NY - January 9, 2024 - Immigrant ARC is disappointed that Governor Hochul made nearly no mention of the needs of immigrants in her “State of the State” address today, especially as growing immigration court backlogs have continued to exacerbate the crisis of representation and delay access to long-term status and work authorization for thousands of immigrant New Yorkers.
As of November 2023, more than 174,000 immigrants in New York are fighting for their rights in immigration court without access to legal representation. Detained immigrants are at least ten times more likely to win their cases if they have a lawyer compared to those without legal help. New York became a leader when it established the first statewide publicly funded deportation defense program, and now we call on the Governor to include $150 million in funding for the implementation of the Access to Representation Act (ARA) in her proposed budget, so that New York can continue being a leader in free community-based legal services. The bill, introduced by Assembly Member Catalina Cruz and Senator Brad Hoylman-Siegal, would be a first in the nation law establishing a state-based right to counsel for New Yorkers facing deportation.
In response to Governor Hochul’s address, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“If Governor Hochul wants to ‘empower all people to live their lives with optimism and hope’ then it is imperative she provide funding for immigration legal services as it is one of the most meaningful ways our State can support its existing and new immigrant communities. It is essential we provide immigrant New Yorkers with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their legal options and to help them obtain legal status. These investments are not only the morally right move to make, they are also an investment in New York’s economic future. Providing access to legal help is the best way to ensure that immigrants can obtain long-term status, work authorization, and access to resources that will include them in our cultural, civic, and economic life. New York has always been a home to immigrants, it is our state's greatest strength and resource and if we ensure that our immigrant communities receive the services they need to flourish, our state will grow and flourish with them.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Responds to Inhumane Immigration Policy Negotiations
New York, NY; December 8, 2023 - Immigrant ARC is outraged over reports that the Biden administration is considering caving on cruel immigration policy changes in exchange for foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel. Among the many proposed changes, including nationwide authority to use expedited removal mechanisms, which effectively allows for the rounding up and mass expulsion of migrants. In a speech this week, the President went so far as to say that his administration is willing to make “significant compromises” to our immigration system, which is a complete reversal from his earlier promises to “restore” asylum and welcome immigrants.
In response to this news, Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, issued the following statement:
"Expedited removal and asylum claim caps are immoral and against the tenets of due process that we uphold in the U.S. Asylum seekers have experienced extreme hardship and have turned to the U.S. for safety and a better life, which is their right under our laws. It is not only unacceptable to use vulnerable migrants who are fleeing from horrific conditions as a bargaining chip––these changes will reverberate across our immigration system and cause irreparable harm. As lawyers, we are compelled to speak out on this attack on due process and fair play, which our justice system is supposed to be the embodiment of. We urge the Biden Administration to reverse course immediately, and call upon Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to ensure our core beliefs as New Yorkers are not swept under the rug of inside-the-beltway politics."
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The Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (Immigrant ARC) is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Immigrant ARC Responds to Announcement of End of Title 42
New York, NY; April 27, 2023 - Today the Biden Administration announced its plan to manage migration at the U.S. Southern Border once the Title 42 Health Emergency restrictions end on May 11, 2023.
Camille J. Mackler, Esq, the Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“Given how long the Administration waited to end the Title 42-related border closures, we are disappointed to see a return to the same old, broken policies that have never worked in the past. The promise of an aggressive use of expedited removal, in particular, is outdated, at odds with the original intent of the law, and will only lead to more chaos and confusion at the border and in the interior. The reliance on CBP One, which has proven problematic on numerous levels, adds to these concerns. We do appreciate the recognition of the burden placed on receiving communities and the much needed infusion of financial support, but urge the Biden Administration to work closely with local governments and civil society leaders who have been bearing the brunt of these policy decisions for far too long without support. Our ideas and solutions are informed by the needs and realities on the ground, and offer meaningful and concrete ways to address current challenges. At the same time, we urge Congress to end its stalemate on immigration, which has gone on for far too long, and fix our broken system once and for all. This includes creating better and expanded pathways to legal status in the United States that address not only today’s migration patterns, but also meet our economic, labor, and cultural needs, as well as funding humanitarian responses and adjudicatory branches at a sustainable level.”
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The Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (Immigrant ARC) is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
Contact: press@immigrantarc.org
Immigrant ARC announces the publication of its report “FINDING HOME IN THE EMPIRE STATE: A Survey and Assessment of the Needs of Afghans Newly Resettled in New York State”
New York, NY; April 19, 2023 - At the two-year anniversary of the Biden Administration’s announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan - suddenly sending the country into chaos and thousands of Afghans fleeing to America - I-ARC, presents its months-long study of the needs of Afghan newcomers to New York State, developed in partnership with Catholic Charities Family and Community Services, Just Cause, Refugee & Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE), the Volunteer Lawyers Project of CNY, and World Relief.
REPORT GENERAL FINDINGS
The Afghan evacuee community is quite diverse, and therefore has diverse needs. Some community members have come to the U.S. with advanced degrees and significant work experience — their needs include transferring their credentials or formulating a plan to invest in continuing education in the U.S. to practice in their field. Some community members have not completed high school — their needs include studying for their GED, or connecting with work opportunities that do not have particular educational requirements. Many individuals do not speak English.
80% of Afghan evacuees in NY state were found to have viable asylum claims.
Nearly half of Afghan evacuees in NY state have some type of US-government affiliations.
Seventy-four percent of Afghan community members interviewed reported mental health concerns. Particular stressors included worry about family members remaining in Afghanistan, and worry about obtaining employment and legal status in the U.S.
84% of Afghan community members hope to settle permanently in the United States.
55% of Afghan interviewees reported having either no job or a job that does not pay enough to sustain them.
Many Afghan community members are still awaiting their work authorization; Afghan-serving organizations report struggling to hire and train staff to meet the large demand.
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Camille Mackler, the Executive Director of Immigrant ARC, made the following statement:
“We are proud of the work New York State has done to welcome Afghan allies over the last two years. New York’s history is indelibly tied to Afghanistan and when the Taliban took control of the government there, New Yorkers did what they did best - extended welcome and compassion. Though there have been challenges, and many lessons learned along the way, over a thousand Afghans now call New York home, and we are committed to continuing to work with our partners and government supporters to ensure that our new neighbors have the support and services they need to fully become part of our State’s economic, cultural, and civic life. This assessment by our staff and partners show where we must continue to focus over the next coming years, and we look forward to continuing to work with all involved in the report.”
Adds RISE Director of Resettlement Leah Ifraimova, “We see firsthand the difficulties our refugee clients face and through such important work as the Afghan Needs Assessment, we hope to bring more awareness to the refugee community and continue to advocate on their behalf.”
Mahnaz Akbari is I-ARC’s Afghan Resettlement Project Manager and has a very important role not only in writing this report, but also as an Afghan immigrant and asylum-seeker who is able to shed light and lived experience on behalf of Afghans in the United States. She says, “Having a safe and healthy life is the right of every person, and this survey, by highlighting the problems of Afghans rescued in the evacuation from Afghanistan, helps to identify their problems and thus make solutions to meet their needs and expand their access to services. Of course, it was very easy for me to understand all the problems of Afghans because I myself was one of the victims of this incident so I am passionate about improving their resettlement and integration to the US. I hope this survey will open a way to meet the needs of immigrants now and for the future.”
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I-ARC and the other organizations co-sponsoring this assessment of the needs of Afghan newcomers stand in full-throated support of the Afghan Adjustment Act, currently awaiting a vote in Congress. The bill provides a pathway to lawful permanent residence and eventual citizenship for Afghan nationals who have already been allowed to enter the U.S. Unlike the regular U.S. asylum process, which requires applicants to speak about their credible fear of persecution, an often retraumatizing experience, this stand-alone bill would allow Afghans to enter a streamlined process to adjust their status after going through a vetting process. This bill helps ensure Afghans who are already here in the United States can integrate into their communities where they are already living.
The full “FINDING HOME IN THE EMPIRE STATE: A Survey and Assessment of the Needs of Afghans Newly Resettled in New York State” report can be found HERE on the I-ARC website.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org
IMMIGRANT ARC RESPONDS TO US/CANADA DEAL TO DIVERT ASYLUM SEEKERS
New York, NY; March 27, 2023 - Immigrant ARC is disappointed with the recently announced agreement between the United States and Canada allowing both countries to divert asylum seekers from their borders at a time when migration has surged across the hemisphere. Advocates reported the ban going into effect hours after it was announced; The last time this happened was the first Muslim Travel Ban under President Trump, and it caused chaos. This also comes on the heels of last month’s announcement that the Biden Administration will place new restrictions on asylum seekers looking for protection at the U.S. Southern Border.
Roxham Road in Canada first became a news headline in 2017, when immigrants terrified of the Trump Administration and its scare tactics began fleeing to Canada in higher numbers. Forced away from regular border crossings by the stringent restrictions of the Safe Third Country Agreement, which prevents individuals from transiting through the US or Canada in order to seek asylum in the other, increasing numbers of people began crossing into Canada a few miles away. Numbers dipped through the pandemic and early months of the Biden Administration, but recently have begun spiking again. Last December, nearly 5,000 migrants crossed into Canada along this one country road, more than doubling the number from years before.
The idea is that the agreement would divert up to 15,000 migrants each year from that dangerous trek, leaving the Biden administration with fewer migrants to turn away. It would ostensibly also allow Canada to turn back to the United States migrants who have decided to try their luck with the Canadian asylum system rather than to win protection in the United States. If they are not careful, however, Canadian leaders risk falling into the same traps as their American counterparts: creating restrictionist policies with too few complimentary avenues to enter Canada, which will lead, over time to confusion, chaos, and a system entirely ill equipped and ill resourced to manage the needs.
“First and foremost, the Governments on both sides of the border should acknowledge that migration will not cease,” says Immigrant ARC Executive Director Camille Mackler. “Having jurisdictions agree to take on a certain number of people and then arbitrarily assigning where they will go will only backfire, with people looking for new ways to circumvent the system so that they can choose where they resettle based on whatever parameters make sense for them.”
She goes on to say, “In our view, investing in creating welcoming communities is the best way to organically support migration by choice. In the twenty years I have been working as an immigration attorney, one thing has been made clear: people will gravitate to the places they think offer the most opportunity for stability, safety, and prosperity. Creating welcoming ecosystems has largely been up to local governments so far, with political beliefs and cultural and social trends often affecting the willingness of any given community to welcome newcomers. By creating robustly resourced programs across a wide variety of locations, national governments can encourage resettlement in a larger number of places, easing the burdens placed on a particular location. Moving forward, it is not enough for the head of a country to announce they will share the number of people moving through their borders. They must also work to promote, facilitate, and resource cross-local networks in order to ensure that migrants are properly supported once they arrive at their destination - and so they don’t choose to leave again.”
Ultimately, Mackler concludes, “Federal Governments need to listen to local governments to implement real, human solutions. Otherwise, closing Roxham Road will only become one more band aid policy fix meant to address concerns in the centers of power, but with no real impact on the ground other than to prolong human suffering.”
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org
Elected Officials, Immigrant Advocates Demand Passage of the Access to Representation Act
Albany, NY – Today, Sen. Brad Hoylman, Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, and the Campaign for Access, Representation & Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families coalition rallied on the State Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase to call on Governor Hochul and legislative leaders to support the Access to Representation Act (ARA). This first-in-the-nation bill would establish a right to counsel in immigration court proceedings.
People at the rally shared stories about how they have been forced to navigate an overburdened and under-resourced court system without any legal resources. By passing the ARA, Governor Hochul and the legislature can help thousands of New Yorkers keep their families intact and allow them to continue contributing to their communities and our economy. Having a lawyer makes a massive impact: immigrants in detention are 3.5 times more likely to win release from detention and more than 10 times more likely to prove their right to remain in the United States.
New York State currently has a backlog of more than 190,000 deportation cases in immigration courts. Across the state, 93 percent of New Yorkers—including 86 percent of upstate residents—said that they believe it is somewhat or very important that all people, including those in immigration court, have access to legal representation. Investing in humane immigration policies that enable more community members to remain safely at home, on the job, and with their families makes our state safer and benefits our economy. Passage of the ARA would continue to position New York State as a model for other jurisdictions where immigrants face similar challenges while delivering on behalf of New Yorkers.
"Having a lawyer in an immigration hearing can be the difference between life and death. Non-detained people in immigration hearings are over three times more likely to achieve a successful outcome if they have representation. Our Access to Representation Act will help immigrants get the legal representation they need. I am grateful to Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, the New York Immigration Coalition, the Vera Institute of Justice, and Immigrant-ARC, for their advocacy in support of this critical bill," said State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
"Every day thousands of immigrants statewide face the possibility of deportation without due process of law and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. They are our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones. Our nation was and is built on their backs, and they have built their lives on the promises of our nation. However, if they cannot afford a lawyer, they are left to fight a complex immigration system on their own. While immigration law is civil in nature, the consequences of violating the law are the same as those faced by criminal defendants- loss of liberty, forced separation from family, or worse- death when forced to return to a country that persecutes their very existence. As the migrant crisis intensifies, the need for legal services skyrockets. The Access to Representation Act seeks to right this wrong by ensuring that effective legal services are provided to everyone, not simply those who are able to afford them," said State Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz.
“DC 37 represents thousands of new immigrants in many titles, including those providing critical healthcare and community services. New York’s history proves that today's new immigrants are tomorrow’s hardest working citizens. Immigrants come to the city to work and support their families, and are in turn invaluable contributors to our economic growth and recovery. Expanding the right to counsel to help our members and their families remain working here rather than in jail awaiting deportation is a moral imperative and sound economic policy,” said Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME.
“Access to a lawyer when facing an immigration hearing can be the difference between a years-long battle of attrition in the US court system and a fair resolution,” said 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich. “The Access to Representation Act ensures that our immigrant community no longer faces our nation’s byzantine court system alone. 32BJ is proud to support this vital legislation and we thank Senator Hoylman and Assemblymember Cruz for introducing this bill and immigrant advocates for their fierce advocacy.”
“Breaking up families who contribute to our communities doesn’t just hurt households, it also hurts the local economies that thrive because of their immigrant neighbors. Without legal representation, there is a real financial and human cost for immigrants and communities across New York. Access to legal representation allows families to pursue their asylum cases, change legal status, and it ensures that no immigrant child or adult is left to fend for themselves navigating our complex immigration court system. Governor Hochul has the opportunity to demonstrate how much New York values our immigrant workers, business owners, friends, and community members by fully investing in legal services funding and passing the Access to Representation Act to keep families together and New York’s economy thriving,” said Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.
"This is a moment for bold action. Every New Yorker deserves representation in immigration court. Increasing funding for these essential services and passing the Access to Representation Act will ensure that our immigrant neighbors have a fighting chance in a system that is heavily stacked against them. Without legal representation, immigrants are far more likely to be separated from their families and loved ones or sent to countries where their lives are in danger. Our state has been a national leader in this fight, and we can continue to pave the way by offering immigrant New Yorkers the right to legal help and a chance to seek safety, security, and family unity when faced with the terrifying prospect of detention and deportation,” said Shayna Kessler, state advocacy manager with the Vera Institute of Justice.
“Including the Access to Representation Act in this year’s budget is the single most important action New York State can take to protect immigrant communities right now - be they long-established or recently arrived in search of safety and a new home,” said Camille Mackler, the executive director of Immigrant ARC. “The crisis of representation in immigration processes has gone on for too long, and many continue to try to navigate an opaque system designed to make them fail without access to basic legal orientation, much less a representative on their case. At the same time legal service providers, who are unable to meet the crushing needs for their services, cannot expand capacity without more resources that are guaranteed year over year. We thank Assemblymember Catalina Cruz and Senator Brad Hoylman for their continued leadership on this issue and urge the New York State Legislature and Governor to include the ARA in this year’s budget so that New York can continue to be a beacon of hope and solidarity for the rest of the country.”
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About the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families: The Vera Institute of Justice, the New York Immigration Coalition, and Immigrant-ARC lead CARE for Immigrant Families, a coalition of over 100 leading organizations, religious groups, and elected officials united to pass the Access to Representation Act. The bill (S00999/A00170) will guarantee access to legal representation for immigrants at risk of deportation in New York. Sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, the legislation would be the first in the nation to create a statewide right to legal representation for people facing deportation who cannot afford it, whether they have recently arrived in the state or have been New Yorkers for decades.
About the Vera Institute of Justice: The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.
About the New York Immigration Coalition: The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.
About Immigrant ARC: Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to increase access to counsel and access to justice for all immigrant New Yorkers. For more information, visit www.immigrantarc.org
IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES ON GOV. HOCHUL’S EXECUTIVE BUDGET: THIS PROPOSAL FALLS SHORT
CARE for Immigrant Families Calls for Passage of Access to Representation Act and Increased Funding to Ensure Fairness in Immigration System.
ALBANY, NY; February 1, 2023 – In response to Governor Hochul’s executive budget proposal today, the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families issued the following statement:
“Given the humanitarian issues our state is experiencing, Governor Hochul’s executive budget proposal fails to meet the needs of thousands of immigrants facing heartbreaking challenges in the legal system right now. Although Governor Hochul is right to include an investment of $43 million for immigration services, this allocation falls far short of what is required to ensure our neighbors are protected and asylum seekers are given a fair shot in a system that’s stacked against them.
“Having an attorney makes a world of difference for people in immigration court. Every single data point shows that people facing deportation are exponentially more likely to remain with their families and loved ones if they have a lawyer fighting for them.
“Yet today, tens of thousands of New Yorkers are fending for themselves without lawyers in complex immigration proceedings. As the legislature negotiates the executive budget, the state has to do better. Lawmakers must not only fully fund immigration services, but also pass the Access to Representation Act, which will ensure the right to legal representation in these complicated cases. This investment will also go a long way toward helping the state prepare for future new arrivals.
“While other states are cynically sending thousands of immigrants to New York, our state can demonstrate that a humane approach to immigration delivers both safety and justice. But it must be done through substantial investments in smart long-term solutions. Immigrants are the backbone of New York’s communities and the engine of our state’s economic growth. We will work to make sure Governor Hochul and legislative leaders recognize these truths, and stand up for all New Yorkers regardless of wealth or legal status.”
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About the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families: The Vera Institute of Justice, the New York Immigration Coalition, and Immigrant-ARC lead the CARE for Immigrant Families, a coalition of over 100 leading organizations, religious groups, and elected officials united to pass the Access to Representation Act. The bill (S00999/A00170) will guarantee access to legal representation for immigrants at risk of deportation in New York. Sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, the legislation would be the first in the nation to create a statewide right to legal representation for people facing deportation who cannot afford it, whether they have recently arrived in the state or have been New Yorkers for decades.
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About the Vera Institute of Justice: The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.
About the New York Immigration Coalition: The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.
About Immigrant ARC: Immigrant ARC (I-ARC) is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to increase access to counsel and access to justice for all immigrant New Yorkers.
Immigrant ARC Announces New Board Member: Murad Awawdeh
Albany, NY; January 30, 2023 - Immigrant ARC is pleased to welcome Murad Awawdeh to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
“We are thrilled to have such a passionate and fearless immigrant advocate join our Board and help shape the future of our organization,” said Camille Mackler, Executive Director of Immigrant ARC. “Murad has deep professional and personal connections to the communities that we serve and has demonstrated an unrelenting commitment to defending and increasing access to justice for immigrant New Yorkers over his careers. As the country continues to engage in an ever-polarized dialogue on immigration, Mr. Awawdeh’s experiences and voice will allow us to navigate these next few years and help us build a strong and sustainable network of legal care for immigrants that can be a model for the rest of the country.”
“I am excited to be joining the board of Immigrant ARC, which I have been closely involved with since its beginning days fighting the Muslim Ban at JFK Airport,” said Murad Awawdeh. “I know from first hand experience fighting for immigrant communities what a difference having legal help can make. The system is designed to make those appearing before it fail. Legal help not only ensures that the rights we do have are protected, it also holds our government accountable. I look forward to working closely with the I-ARC team and the rest of the Board as the organization continues to grow and make an impact on New York’s immigrant communities.”
Murad Awadeh is a strategist, organizer, and advocacy expert currently serving as the Executive Director at the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). The son of Palestinian immigrants, Murad has dedicated over two decades of his life fighting for low-income communities of color across the State of New York. He grew up organizing to stop dangerous and hazardous developments in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and engaging community residents to build power and bring transformational change to their neighborhoods. As the NYIC's Executive Vice President of Advocacy & Strategy he successfully led electoral, legislative, and policy campaigns at the federal, state and local levels, and mobilized hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers at demonstrations against anti-immigrant policies. As the Executive Vice President of NYIC Action, the NYIC’s sister 501(c)4 political advocacy and action organization, he has successfully led grassroots electoral campaigns to elect progressive candidates. Murad has been featured in VICE and the Huffington Post, and was honored with a U.S Congressional Recognition, and Public Service Awards from the NYS Senate and Assembly. He serves as a Trustee of the New York University Family Health Centers Board, as a member of the Justice 2020 Committee, and as Commissioner of the New York City Civic Engagement Commission. Raised in Sunset Park, Murad currently lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn with his wife and two children.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: We are a coalition of immigration legal advocates that works on increasing access to justice and access to counsel for all immigrant New Yorkers.
IMMIGRANT ARC’S RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S "STATE OF THE STATE" ADDRESS
New York, NY - January 11, 2023 - Immigrant ARC was encouraged to hear Governor Hochul propose an increase in funding for immigration legal services in her Executive Budget and for highlighting the need to support free community-based legal services. We are disappointed, however, that she did not mention this in her “State of the State” address.
To ensure this vision for free community-based legal services becomes reality, we call on the Governor to include $55 Million to fund the first year of implementation of the Access to Representation Act (ARA) in her proposed budget. The bill, introduced by Assembly Member Catalina Cruz and Senator Brad Hoylman, would be a first in the nation law establishing a state-based right to counsel for New Yorkers facing deportation. In addition to the ARA, we are asking Governor Hochul to increase existing funding streams to $45 Million, including an increase in Office for New Americans funding from $12 million to $35 Million, and $10 Million to establish rapid response networks during migration surges such as those experienced this past summer and fall. This added funding is critical to assist individuals not facing deportation navigate a complex system as they apply for the benefits they are entitled to under current law, and also to help create the infrastructure necessary to deploy in times of need.
“Providing access to legal help is one of the most meaningful ways the State can support its existing and new immigrant communities. As federal policies have become more complex and more punitive, and as pandemic-era delays linger, backlogs grow, and migration flows increase because of instability abroad, it is imperative that we provide immigrant New Yorkers with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their legal options and to help them obtain legal status when they qualify. Providers are at capacity, and our field is shrinking as few resources and mounting, urgent needs take a toll on the legal services workforce. This much needed investment of funding and long-term commitment, in the form of groundbreaking legislation, is desperately needed to ensure New York continues to lead the country in showing how to welcome with dignity and compassion,” said Immigrant ARC Executive Director Camille Mackler.
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Immigrant ARC is a collaborative of over 80 organizations and professional associations providing legal services to New York’s immigrant communities throughout the State. Born out of the legal effort at JFK Airport during the Muslim Travel Ban in 2017, our mission is clear: to mobilize New York State’s legal service providers by facilitating communication and information sharing to better support our immigrant communities; to organize and respond to issues as they arise by coordinating resources and fostering best practices among providers; and to resist and challenge anti-immigrant policies by shining a light on injustices and confronting inequalities faced by our communities in the legal system.
CONTACT: press@immigrantarc.org.