New York, NY—Today, the New York City Council released data showing the negative impacts on childrens’ schooling caused by Mayor Adams’ 60-day asylum seeker family shelter eviction policy. As of March 3, roughly one in five asylum seeker children whose families have received eviction notices were forced to leave the school they were previously attending. This amounts to nearly one thousand asylum seeker children who have had their schooling interrupted mid-year (678 students left the school system entirely, and 302 had to switch schools), despite Adams’ claim that “no child will have their edu ..read more

As Budget Deadline Looms, Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Enact a Budget that Uplifts All New Yorkers Photos & Videos Here Facebook Live Stream Here Albany, NY—Today, the CARE for Immigrant Families coalition rallied with immigrant rights advocates, elected officials,  allies and impacted people at the State Capitol to demand a $150 million investment in immigrant legal services. Advocates also called for passage of the Access to Representation Act (ARA), a first-in-the-nation bill that would establish a right to counsel in immigration court, offering families who face ..read more

New York—Long Island residents recently received a mailer in which Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, “so long as I am your County Executive, Nassau will never become a sanctuary county nor spend your tax dollars on services for non-citizens.”  There is a similar statement in his official government biography using the term “illegal aliens.”  Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition: “Communities across Long Island have long been defined by the cultural and economic contributions of immigrant New Yorkers, who pay taxes just like everyone living and w ..read more

NYS Court ruled against Our City, Our Vote legislation, which granted local voting rights in municipal elections to lawful permanent residents and persons authorized to work Photos/video available here. Livestream available here. New York—Today, members of the Our City, Our Vote Coalition, interveners in the case, and elected officials rallied and held a press conference on the City Hall Steps to announce that they will be appealing. Last month, in Fossella v. Adams, the NYS Supreme Court Appellate Division ruled against the enactment of Local Law 11. Lawyers with LatinoJustice PRLDEF represen ..read more

New York, NY—Today, New York Mayor Eric Adams announced he would be traveling to the Southern border, as well as repeating his calls for making deportation easier. Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition: “At a moment when Mayor Adams is under increasing scrutiny for his own legal issues, he is once again trying to deflect attention from his problems by scapegoating immigrants. There is no reason for Mayor Adams to be traveling to the border on the taxpayers’ dime when there is work to be done in New York City. This is just another PR stunt designed to show him as a st ..read more

New York, NY—Today, Congress released its framework for the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bill, allocating $1.2 trillion for the Department of Homeland Security.  The spending proposal makes clear that the GOP leveraged their power to exact some concerning concessions when it comes to aid to localities and detention and border enforcement. These proposed policies include increased funding for ICE’s surveillance and enforcement initiatives, expansion of detention beds, and recruitment of additional border patrol agents along the southern border.    Murad Awawdeh, President and CE ..read more

New York, NY—Following months of court proceedings, the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless announced a settlement with New York City, effectively ending the government’s legal challenge against New York’s Right to Shelter consent decree, established under Callahan v. Carey in 1981.  The terms of the latest settlement are temporary and only apply to newly arrived single asylum-seeking adults, effective solely during the current humanitarian crisis. Families with children are not affected. This agreement preserves New York’s 1981 Right to Shelter mandate, ensuring that the ..read more

New York, NY—Yesterday, an altercation between two men on a New York City subway resulted in a fatality. In a video, the man went on an anti-immigrant rant before being fatally shot. Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition: “Violent and dangerous language leads to violent and dangerous actions. Mayor Adams’ rhetoric of scapegoating asylum seekers and targeting immigrant communities is not only dividing New Yorkers but also fueling violence. For the past year, the Mayor has been spreading misinformation about our communities that is clearly endangering the safety of all ..read more

Albany, NY—Yesterday, the New York State Senate and Assembly submitted their one-house budget resolutions. The proposals include investments totaling $74.2 million for legal services funding, $250 million for the Housing Voucher Access Program, and the Senate’s proposed $175 million investment for Coverage for All.  Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition: “We thank and commend Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins’ and Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie’s continued support of immigrant communities, and as our state continues to face unprecedented times, we continu ..read more

Photos & Videos Here Facebook Live Stream Here Albany, NY—Today, elected officials joined the CARE for Immigrant Families coalition, legal services providers, and asylum seekers at the New York State Capitol to rally in support of a $150 million investment in immigrant legal services. This investment is critical to help ensure that families remain together, and that recent arrivals have the resources to fight their immigration case and gain access to work permits.  Advocates also called for passage of the Access to Representation Act (ARA), a first-in-the-nation bill which would estab ..read more