Advocacy

June 20, 2024 IDP Praises Relief for Immigrants, Urges Biden Administration to Minimize “Double Punishment” for Successful Implementation   NEW YORK– The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) appreciates the incredible significance of President Biden’s announcement of executive action to bring relief to hundreds of thousands of people living in fear of deportation: specifically, qualifying undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and some young … Read more »

June 10, 2024 ALBANY– The Immigrant Defense Project today condemned the New York State Legislature’s failure to pass the New York for All Act (A.5686 / S.987) during the legislative session, which would have protected immigrant communities and all New Yorkers by prohibiting local law enforcement and state agencies from conspiring with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border … Read more »

February 27, 2024 NEW YORK– The ICE Out NYC Coalition, a group of New York City immigrant rights organizations, today said Mayor Adams’s comments on rolling back the City’s sanctuary laws, which limit collusion between city agencies and federal immigration enforcement, are reckless, dangerous and unfairly vilify migrants for political gain.  At a community event in Brooklyn on Monday, the … Read more »

January 29, 2023 NEW YORK– Over thirty immigrant rights organizations today called on the New York City Council and Speaker Adrienne Adams to stand firm in their support of the How Many Stops Act and Ban Solitary bill. Both bills were vetoed by Mayor Adams, showing a blatant disregard for the safety and rights of Black, Latinx, immigrant and all … Read more »

January 18, 2024 ALBANY, NY –  New York State legislators joined over 120 human rights and social justice advocates, directly impacted community members, legal service providers, and faith leaders across New York State to launch the Justice Roadmap, a legislative agenda designed to address the deeply interconnected harms caused by the criminal legal and immigration systems and build community safety … Read more »

December 22, 2023 ALBANY, NY –  Today, Governor Kathy Hochul granted 16 pardons, 7 of those to immigrants who are deeply rooted in their communities in New York, yet face immigration impacts because of their convictions. We applaud the Governor’s announcements to grant these pardons and to commute the sentences of 4 others.  One of the pardon recipients is Kayode … Read more »

September 11, 2023 ALBANY, NY –  On Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul granted 10 pardons to immigrant New Yorkers whose convictions have triggered deportation, risk of deportation, or ineligibility for naturalization, and commuted the sentences of 3 others. One of the pardon recipients is Christopher Dyer, a former green card holder who first came to the United States at the age … Read more »

August 18, 2023 ALBANY, N.Y.— Over two dozen national and New York-based advocates for immigrant survivors of violence today called on Governor Hochul to sign the Fair Courts for Immigrant New Yorkers Act into law to offer critical protections for immigrant survivors of gender based violence in the criminal legal system. The bill is sponsored by Senator Kavanagh and Assemblymember … Read more »

The New York for All Act would prohibit local law enforcement and state agencies from colluding with federal immigration agencies. June 12, 2023 New York—The New York State Legislative session is coming to a close, without leaders bringing the New York For All Act (S.987 Gounardes / A.5686 Reyes) forward for floor votes in the Senate or Assembly. This legislation … Read more »

June 8, 2023 ALBANY, N.Y.— For the second year in a row, the state legislature has passed the Fair Courts for Immigrant New Yorkers Act (S.5836/A.3057), a critical bill that will ensure that immigrant New Yorkers facing criminal charges get a clear notification that there could be an immigration impact and be alerted to get the advice they are entitled … Read more »

The Fair Courts for Immigrant New Yorkers Act Would Strengthen Immigrants’ Constitutional Right to Receive Legal Advice in Criminal Court May 17, 2023 ALBANY, NY— Advocates applauded the Assembly’s passage today of the Fair Courts for Immigrant New Yorkers Act, a critical bill in Albany that will ensure that immigrant New Yorkers facing criminal charges get a clear notification that … Read more »

May 1, 2023 New York – Unions and worker justice organizations are joining the call for lawmakers in Albany to pass the New York for All Act, which would broadly prohibit local and state agencies from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) in searching for, arresting and deporting immigrant New Yorkers. Twenty-five labor unions … Read more »

February 15, 2023 New York, NY- At a City Council hearing on Wednesday, the Immigration and Criminal Justice Committees heard hours of testimony from community members and advocates illustrating how the City has continued to funnel people into the hands of ICE and why we need to strengthen our local laws to protect immigrant New Yorkers. In questioning the Department … Read more »

Justice Roadmap 2023 Paves the Way to Long Overdue Changes to New York’s Criminal Legal and Immigration Systems – The Time is Now! January 17, 2023 NEW YORK – Today, state legislators and more than 120 advocacy groups unveiled the Justice Roadmap 2023 – a legislative agenda to address the interconnected harms of the criminal legal and immigration systems and … Read more »

January 10, 2023 NEW YORK– Over thirty immigrant rights community-based and legal advocacy organizations called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to withdraw the nomination of Judge LaSalle as Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, and on the New York Senate to reject the nomination. The organizations stand with the many others who have stood up against … Read more »

The time is now for the Governor to make good on her promise to exercise a historically underused executive power December 21, 2022 ALBANY, NY – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul granted 9 pardons to immigrants who have made significant contributions to New York, yet face severe immigration consequences because of their convictions. While we applaud the Governor’s announcements to grant … Read more »

The Bill, Which Passed in June, Requires Judges to Notify Immigrant New Yorkers of Possible Immigration Consequences of Pleas in Criminal Court December 12, 2022 NEW YORK – Advocates today condemned Governor Hochul’s veto of the Court Notification Bill (S2903A/A9877A), which would have taken a critical step toward protecting the rights of immigrants facing criminal charges and ensuring a meaningful … Read more »