Advocates and Lawmakers Demand Investment in Legal Services For Immigrants and Asylum Seekers

NEW YORK, New York – The Campaign for Access, Representation and Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families coalition has joined with immigrant rights advocates, elected officials, allies and other stakeholders demanding US $150 million investment in legal services for immigrants and asylum seekers.

CARE for Immigrant Families coalition rally with immigrant rights advocates, elected officials to legal aid for Caribbean migrants.They are also calling for the passage of the Access to Representation Act (ARA) that would establish a right to counsel in immigration court, offering families who face deportation a lifeline for remaining united. The rally on Thursday marked an escalation in the pressure on lawmakers ahead of the April 1 budget deadline.

NYIC, an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, said that Caribbean and other immigrant New Yorkers who can’t afford to hire an attorney are currently forced to represent themselves in court, regardless of age or language abilities, against trained government attorneys.

“Studies show that immigrants with legal representation are 10.5 times more likely to win their right to remain in the United States, making it more important than ever for legislative leaders to fund legal services and help keep immigrant families intact,” said Murad Awawdeh, NYIC’s president and chief executive officer.

“With an estimated backlog of 330,000 pending immigration cases in New York, lawmakers must prioritize boosting capacity for legal service providers and investing in infrastructure that delivers long-term sustainability to our legal system,” he added.

Awawdeh said the ARA has received support from the New York State Bar Association, major labour unions, 125 nonprofits and community-based organizations, and more than 100 elected officials across the state, including Attorney General Letitia James.

“We’re calling on the governor to include US$150 million for the Access to Representation Act in the final budget to make our legal system truly equitable and deliver much-needed relief for immigrant New Yorkers,” he said.

“There is no justice or due process in a system that does not extend legal representation to those who cannot afford it. This historic legislation would give back to immigrant families and ensure they have a fighting chance to remain together and continue contributing to our economy,” Awawdeh added.

ARC’s executive director, Camille Mackler, said that including US$150 million for immigration legal services in this year’s budget is “the single most important action New York State can take to tackle this crisis of representation in the immigration process.

“We are forcing immigrant New Yorkers 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 urge the New York State Legislature and governor to include and properly fund 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,” she added.

The associate director for advocacy with the Vera Institute of Justice’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative, Shayna Kessler, said that thousands of Caribbean and other immigrant New Yorkers are facing deportation without legal support, “risking heartbreaking family separations and immense hardship”.

She said with the budget deadline looming, she is urging lawmakers to take urgent action “to make sure that our neighbours have access to legal services and are not left to navigate immigration court alone.

“A US$150 million investment, coupled with the passage of the Access to Representation Act, is crucial to meeting urgent needs, protecting families, promoting safety and stability in New York’s communities, and ensuring a strong economy and the continued vibrancy of our state,” Kessler said.

New York State Assembly member,  Catalina Cruz, said that New York’s legal system is difficult to navigate for anyone, but especially for New Yorkers who cannot afford a lawyer or who might not speak English.

“But everyone who calls New York home, whether they arrived here 30 days ago or 30 years ago, deserves a fair fight in court,” she said.

“New York has an amazing opportunity to welcome new people to our state’s communities and economy, and Albany must stand up for immigrant New Yorkers with a US$150 million investment in legal services to facilitate their integration.

“I look forward to working with the advocates, my Senate colleague Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and Governor Kathy Hochul to pass the Access to Representation Act and ensure its inclusion in this year’s budget,” Cruz added.

Another New York State Assembly member, David Weprin, noted that he is “a proud co-sponsor of the Access to Representation Act, stating that new immigrants to New York State face “unfathomable hurdles to get here.”

“Not having representation in immigration court is one more hardship they don’t need to face. We need to give those individuals and families who fought so hard to get to New York a fighting chance at being able to stay here. Everybody should have a right to counsel.”