NEWYORK: Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Attorney General Letitia James stood together against the Trump Administration’s aggressive federal immigration enforcement and reminded New Yorkers of their rights and protections.
In addition, Governor Hochul announced $7.25 million in new funding to provide legal services for approximately 1,400 unaccompanied immigrant children and youth in New York who are facing active removal proceedings, including the more than 250 children who are currently detained. The funding will help vulnerable children access legal representation following the Trump administration’s July 31 contract expiration.
“No child in our state should ever face the fear and uncertainty of the immigration process without advocates and legal support in their corner,” Governor Hochul said.
“While the Trump Administration is walking away from these children, New York is stepping up to help bridge the gap and ensure their continued access to the services they need and deserve. When we lose sight of our shared responsibility to protect children, we lose sight of who we are as a country, and as Governor, I will not let that happen.”
For nearly two decades, the federal government has been required by law to protect immigrant children and both Democrat and Republican administrations have complied with that law.
Legal representation is necessary as unaccompanied minors are more likely to be trafficked, abused and endangered. The Trump Administration’s lack of clarity surrounding replacement contracts creates instability for thousands of children in New York and across the country and ultimately will harm vulnerable children who rely on these services.
In response, the New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) is executing contracts totaling $7.25 million with a coalition of legal services providers, led by the Hispanic Federation, to support children previously served under the federal program.
This builds on the work Governor Hochul has already done to protect immigrant communities including nearly $87 million for the Office for New Americans, a 27% increase compared with last year. ONA, through their network of community providers, operates a hotline, provides rapid legal assistance, conducts know-your-rights trainings and supports other key services for adults and children.
“New York will never stand by while vulnerable children are left to navigate our immigration system alone. We will continue fighting to protect immigrant New Yorkers and push back against federal overreach that puts families and communities at risk. Every New Yorker deserves a fair day in court and access to justice, and I thank Governor Hochul for taking the initiative to fund these critical legal services,” said Attorney General Letitia James.
“New York refuses to stand idly by while the federal government abandons immigrant children and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and deportation. I’m proud to stand alongside state and city leaders as we reject the cruelty on display and recommit to protecting the immigrant communities that help form this city’s backbone. New York City has invested a record 153 million dollars in legal representation for immigrants, expanded Know Your Rights outreach in dozens of languages, and strengthened the firewall between city agencies and federal immigration enforcement. We will not stop until the values our city was built upon are truly felt across the five boroughs,” said New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.
“These are children we are talking about, and it is our responsibility to protect them by doing everything we can to ensure they have access to legal representation and are kept out of harm’s way. I applaud Governor Hochul for taking swift action to stand up for the dignity and rights of children who are simply seeking a fair chance at a better life. The Department of State’s Office for New Americans has been working diligently to connect those in need with critical legal assistance and resources, because New York has always been, and will continue to be, a welcoming state,” New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley.
“This funding is a testament to the fact that, here in New York, we will not stand idly by while immigrant communities across our state and country are targeted by the cruel actions and volatile rhetoric coming out of Washington. We will not compromise on our core values of justice, dignity and equality, and we have a responsibility to ensure that every person, regardless of immigration status, can live without fear, access essential services, and be a part of the communities that they call home. That responsibility is especially urgent when it comes to the children of our state, who should never be forced to navigate a complex and intimidating legal system alone. Every child deserves someone in their corner to protect their rights, fight for their future, and ensure they receive the due process and legal protections they are entitled to. I am proud to have secured this funding working alongside Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and Attorney General James, as we continue to protect immigrant families and make clear that New York will remain a safe haven for our immigrant neighbors,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
“Immigrant communities are under siege by a federal government that has lost sight of the very fabric of our nation. Here in New York, we will continue to fight back, and today’s announcement of $7.25 million for the legal services of unaccompanied minors illustrates just this. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and Attorney General James for their steadfast leadership in ensuring the vulnerable in our community will receive the representation they deserve as well as their strong stance against the aggressive actions of ICE agents in our state,”said Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie.
“The Trump Administration’s decision to strip legal representation from unaccompanied children facing immigration proceedings abandons some of the most vulnerable young people imaginable at the moment they need help most. No child should ever have to stand alone in an immigration courtroom simply because they cannot afford a lawyer or because the federal government walked away from its responsibility. I thank Governor Hochul for stepping in to ensure these children are not forced to navigate our legal system alone. New York has always stood for due process, compassion, and the rule of law, and we will continue fighting at every level of government to ensure every child has access to the legal representation they deserve,” said New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
“When the federal government chooses to abandon children who are among the most vulnerable members of our society, New York cannot stand by and tolerate this injustice. The Trump Administration’s decision to cancel an essential legal services contract for unaccompanied minors threatens to leave thousands of children without the legal representation they need to navigate an extraordinarily complex immigration system. That is why I strongly commend Governor Kathy Hochul’s initiative to allocate $7.25 million to ensure legal assistance for approximately 1,400 unaccompanied minors. This investment is not only necessary, but also the morally right thing to do. New York is demonstrating that when the federal government fails in its responsibility, our state is prepared to step up, protect our most vulnerable, and safeguard their right to due process. At the same time, we must remain vigilant in the face of the recent increase in operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our communities and against any abuse or overreach of federal authority,” said State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda.
