The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), partners, legal service providers, New York immigrants and allies manifested in the Capitol of the New York State in support of the Law of Access to Representation (ARA, S141/A270) and the Law for the Development of the Legal Defense of Immigrants (Build, A2689/S4538) Legislative of 2025.
Protesters also demanded an investment of $ 165 million in the state budget for legal services and immigration infrastructure. This demonstration in Albany was broadcast live on March 11 by https://www.facebook.com/thenyic .
It should be noted that the Law of Access to Representation (ARA) would be the first of its kind in the country, guaranteeing immigrants who face deportation the right to legal assistance in the state of NY and ensuring that they have a fair opportunity to fight for their freedom.
And the Build law feels the basis for the ARA when investing in the essential legal infrastructure necessary for service providers to believe, maintain and expand programs that protect New York immigrants.
«We must protect the New York immigrant community from the attacks that President Trump has promised. Now is the time to make significant financial investments in the legal representation of immigrants, protect our immigrant communities from the excesses of the Department of Immigration and Customs Control (ICE) of Donald Trump and approve the Law of Access to Representation (s
«The ARA will guarantee that all people in the state of New York who face legal challenges related to their immigration status have access to lawyers, something that is currently not possible. Legal representation can literally determine whether thousands of parents are separated from their children or not. By investing in legal services for immigrants, we can protect vulnerable communities, stop family separation and reform our poor judicial immigration system, before Trump has the opportunity to damage him even more, ”he said.
«New York has always been a sanctuary for those who seek security, opportunities and justice. But without legal representation, many of our immigrant neighbors are forced to fight alone for their future in a system designed to expel them. Given the renewed threats of mass deportation and family separation, we must face this moment with actions, ”said the assemblyman Catalina Cruz, of District 39.
«Approve the Law of Access to Representation and the Build Law is not just about policies, but to defend the fundamental right to due process. Our State must invest $ 165 million in legal services to ensure that no New York is left without an opportunity to fight. This is how we defend our values, we protect our communities and fight the injustice of an immigration system that, too often, denies justice to those who need it most, ”he stressed.
“Given the increase in deportation threats for the families of New York and the country, it is essential that our courts respect the law and guarantee that each person has the legal support necessary to develop in an increasingly complex system,” said Senator John Liu, of district 16.
«The Law of Access to Representation and Build will provide the legal infrastructure necessary to meet the growing demand for representation in our courts and ensure that no family separates without a fair defense. Thanks to the Care for Immigrant Families Coalition and my colleagues in the Legislature for continuing to fight for the resources to protect our New York compatriots, ”he emphasized.
Federal Government attacks
«Given the intensification of federal government attacks against immigrant communities, New York must remain firm in its commitment to due legal process. There is nothing more American than the right to a fair audience. New York must ensure that all residents, regardless of their immigration status, have the opportunity to be heard, defend themselves and receive impartial treatment within our judicial system, ”said Murad Awawdeh, president and executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition.
“Financing the legal services of immigration with $ 165 million and approve of the ARA and Build laws will keep our United New York economy,” said the CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC).
«All people should have access to a fair and affordable legal representation. Unfortunately, low -income families, victims of gender violence and, even more, immigrant women are those who are less likely to access legal representation and, therefore, the most vulnerable, ”says Martha Maffei, executive director of Sepa Women, community organization based in Long Island.
«The lack of access to legal representation can result in the criminalization of innocent people and, in many cases, even in deportation. We request that Careif be prioritized and included in the budget, since it will help our families and prevent them from being in limbo or being victims of injustices, ”he warned.
«The implacable anti -immigrant agenda of the Trump administration has already put millions of people at risk of mass deportation, permanent family separation and indefinite detention. These illegal attacks will not only harm people, but will devastate local communities and destabilize the New York economy, ”says Rosie Wang, program manager of the initiative” advancing the universal representation “of the Vera Institute of Justice.
«New York must remain firm in the defense of immigrant communities against these harmful protection cuts and an unprecedented federal attack on their rights. We exhort the Senate and the Assembly to ensure that, in its unicameral budgets, the state of New York invests $ 165 million in migratory legal defense ».
«State leaders must also approve crucial laws such as access to representation and Build laws to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to legal services to protect their rights, both in this moment of crisis and to respond to future attacks. There is much at stake and leaders must act now, ”he said.
To this demonstration in the New York capital Albany also joined the firm support of senators Julia Salazar, of the 18th district; Robert Jackson, from District 31; Gustavo Rivera, from District 33; Nathalia Fernández, from District 34; Samra G. Brouk, from District 55; Jeremy Cooney, from District 56; and the assembly members of Emily Gallagher, from the 50th district; and Harvey Epstein, from district 74, among others.
