December 22, 2025 The Immigrant Defense Project celebrates passage of the Safer Sanctuary Act, Intro 1412, which keeps federal agents seeking to target our immigrant neighbors from having an office on Rikers Island (or any DOC property) and updates the definitions of immigration enforcement to reflect how the federal government weaponizes different arms of government to target people. New Yorkers … Read more »
September 9, 2025 New York — Today the ICE Out! NYC Coalition, the Shut Rikers campaign, The New York City Anti-Violence Project and allies applauded Judge Rosado’s court order in New York Supreme Court striking down Mayor Adams’s attack on sanctuary, Executive Order 50. In April, the Adams administration made good on the Mayor’s threat to return ICE to operate … Read more »
August 28, 2025 ALBANY, NY — Today, 70+ advocacy organizations that work in pursuit of justice for immigrants, for those affected by mass incarceration and criminalization, for survivors of gender-based violence, for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, for workers and labor rights, together applauded Governor Hochul for granting pardons to thirteen New Yorkers and called on her to use her clemency power … Read more »
June 18, 2025 The following is a statement from the Immigrant Defense Project: “The Trump Administration is waging a terror campaign against New Yorkers across the state, using Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to target, abduct, and detain loved ones and community members, yet our elected leaders have chosen not to act, failing to pass urgently … Read more »
June 12, 2025 The following is a statement from the Immigrant Defense Project: “We condemn today’s announcement by the Department of Justice seeking to interfere in the rights of New Yorkers to access the state courts. “New York must protect the rights of all our community members to due process. In our state courts, the stakes are high– judges are … Read more »
Congressional Letter Comes As Sponsors and Supporters Build Momentum to Pass NY4All in Final Days of Session June 10, 2025 Albany, N.Y.-– With momentum building to pass the New York for All Act by the end of the legislative session in Albany this week, nine members of the New York Congressional delegation sent a letter to state elected officials urging … Read more »
April 24, 2025 Albany, N.Y. — Labor unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers across New York State are urging Governor Hochul and the New York State Senate and Assembly to quickly pass the New York for All Act and protect immigrant communities from the Trump Administration’s brutal deportation machine. “This bill represents the strongest action that New York State … Read more »
April 15, 2025 Today, Speaker Adams and the New York City Council SUED the Mayor and his administration, challenging his plan to re-embed ICE agents at Rikers. This order would pave way for ICE to separate more New Yorkers from their loved ones. We applaud the council’s quick action and are proud to see true New Yorker Spirit in action! … Read more »
January 19, 2025 This morning our hearts skipped a beat upon hearing the incredible news that Ravi was granted a presidential pardon! We are beyond grateful for this news to come just 24 hours before Trump begins to enact his plans of further supercharging mass deportation. This moment would not have been possible without first and foremost, Ravi and his … Read more »
November 7, 2024 NEW YORK- The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) today said that it will continue its fight against the mass deportation machine when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. “Donald Trump campaigned on a promise of mass deportations and has consistently used dehumanizing and criminalizing language to justify plans for immense cruelty to communities of color and … Read more »
November 6, 2024 ALBANY– Governor Hochul today responded to the 2024 election results by saying she is “committing to safeguarding the rights, freedoms and values we hold dear – no matter what lies ahead.” In a speech Wednesday afternoon, she said she will focus on key areas likely to face threats from the Trump administration – including immigration – and … Read more »
ICE Recruits Journalists, Pols, Business Execs to Roleplay Agents at “Citizens Academy” Programs, Documents Show PR initiative trains attendees in guns and deadly tactics; cultivates vigilantism and xenophobia, rights groups say October 1, 2024, New York and Chicago – Internal documents shed light on the “Citizens Academy” programs, a controversial public relations initiative run by the Department of Homeland Security’s … 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
October 6, 2022 The Immigrant Defense Project has issued the following statement from Jane Shim, Senior Policy Attorney, in response to President Biden’s proclamation granting pardons to thousands of people convicted of simple possession of marijuana: “Marijuana prohibition has devastated poor communities and communities of color for too long, and President Biden’s decision to pardon some federal marijuana possession convictions … Read more »