ALBANY – The Democratic-controlled New York State Senate and Assembly have each included $175 million in their recently released one-house state budget proposals to fund legal services for undocumented immigrants facing deportation, a roughly $100 million increase over last year’s funding level.
The proposals, if adopted in the state’s final budget, would continue and significantly expand programs that provide attorneys and legal support to undocumented immigrants facing federal deportation proceedings.
Democrats in the Senate and Assembly say the funding helps ensure that all immigrants, including those in the country illegally, have access to legal representation while going through the complex immigration court system.
The increased funding comes as state lawmakers separately debate new limits on cooperation between state authorities and federal immigration enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation that would end formal cooperation agreements between local law enforcement agencies and ICE. The proposal would effectively bar local officials from entering into agreements that allow them to assist federal immigration authorities with enforcement activities; however, some lawmakers and immigration advocates are pushing for additional restrictions that would go even further in limiting cooperation.
The Newburgh City Council has just passed local legislation re-affirming that local officials would not cooperate with ICE agents in the city. The council first adopted similar legislation in 2017.
The state’s policy proposals were not included in either chamber’s one-house budget plan. The Senate’s proposal explicitly notes that lawmakers hope to reach a separate agreement on the issue before the state’s budget deadline.
Negotiations between the governor, Senate and Assembly are expected to continue in the coming weeks as they work toward a final state budget deal. New York’s fiscal year begins April 1, though the deadline is often extended while talks continue in Albany.