Immigration advocates, lawmakers rally for $165M for immigration legal services funding

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), partners, legal service providers, immigrant New Yorkers, and allies on Tuesday rallied at the New York State Capitol in support of the Access to Representation Act (ARA, S141/A270) and the Building Up Immigrant Legal Defense Act (BUILD Act, A2689/S4538) for the 2025 New York State Legislative Session.

They also called for an investment of $165 million in the State budget for immigration legal services and infrastructure.

NYIC said the Access to Representation Act would be the first in the nation to guarantee immigrants facing deportation the right to legal counsel in New York State and ensure they have a fair chance to fight for their freedom.

NYIC said the BUILD Act lays the groundwork for ARA by investing in the critical legal infrastructure for service providers to create, maintain, and expand programs to protect immigrant New Yorkers.  

“As the federal government’s attacks on immigrant communities intensify, New York must stand firm in our commitment to due process under the law,” said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of New York Immigration Coalition. “There is nothing more American than the right to a fair hearing.

“New York must ensure that every resident, regardless of their immigration status, has the chance to be heard, to defend themselves, and to receive impartial treatment within our justice system,” he added. “Funding immigration legal services at $165 million and passing the ARA and BUILD Acts will keep our families together and New York’s economy strong.”

“We must protect New York’s immigrant community from the attacks that President Trump has promised. Now is the time to make significant financial investments in immigrant legal representation, protect our immigrant communities from overreaches by Donald Trump’s Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and pass the Access to Representation Act (S.141), which I sponsor with Assembly Member Cruz, into law,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, District 47.

 “The ARA will guarantee that all those in New York State facing legal challenges related to their immigration status have access to lawyers, which is not currently the case,” he added. “Legal representation can quite literally determine if thousands of parents are separated from their children or not. By investing in immigrant legal services, we can protect vulnerable communities, stop family separation, and reform our broken immigration court system before Donald Trump has the chance to damage it even further,”

“New York has always been a sanctuary for those seeking safety, opportunity, and justice. But without legal representation, too many of our immigrant neighbors are forced to fight for their futures alone in a system designed to push them out,” said Assembly Member Catalina Cruz, District 39.

“As we confront the renewed threats of mass deportation and family separation, we must meet this moment with action,” she added. “Passing the Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act is not just about policy—it’s about standing up for the fundamental right to due process. Our state must invest $165 million in legal services to ensure that no New Yorker is left without a fighting chance. This is how we uphold our values, protect our communities, and push back against the injustice of an immigration system that too often denies fairness to those who need it most.”

“As families across New York and the nation face increasing threats of deportation, it is vital that our courts uphold the law and ensure every individual has the legal support they need to navigate an increasingly complex system,” said Sen. John Liu, District 16. “The Access to Representation and BUILD Act will provide the legal infrastructure to meet the growing demand for representation in our courts and ensure no families are broken up without a fair fight.

“Thank you to the CARE for Immigrant Families Coalition and my colleagues in the legislature for continuing to fight for resources to protect fellow New Yorkers,” he added.  

“The Trump administration’s relentless anti-immigrant agenda has already put millions of people at risk for mass deportation, permanent family separation, and indefinite detention,” said Rosie Wang, program manager, Advancing Universal Representation initiative, Vera Institute of Justice. “These unlawful attacks won’t just harm individuals; they will devastate local communities and destabilize New York’s economy.

“New York must hold steady in defending immigrant communities against these harmful rollbacks of protections and an unprecedented federal assault on their rights,” she added. “We call on the Senate and Assembly to ensure in their one house budgets that New York State invests $165 million in immigration legal defense. State leaders must also pass critical legislation like the Access to Representation and BUILD Acts to ensure every New Yorker has access to legal services to protect their rights — both in this current moment of crisis and to respond to future attacks. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and leaders must act now.”