INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK STAND WITH IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS AND COMBAT HATE CRIMES

Independent Democratic Conference Announce $250,000 in funding for the Vera Institute of Justice’s New York Immigrant Family Unity Project

Senators Jeff Klein (Bronx/Westchester), Diane Savino (Staten Island/Brooklyn), Tony Avella (Queens), Jesse Hamilton (Brooklyn), Senator-elect Marisol Alcantara (Manhattan) and the National Action Network, joined by the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the New York Immigration Coalition and the Vera Institute of Justice, on Monday stood in solidarity with immigrant communities to protect civil rights and combat hate crimes. The IDC also announced $250,000 in funding for the Vera Institute of Justice’s New York Immigrant Family Unity Project to provide public defenders to those facing deportation and called for $4 million funding to meet the remaining statewide need.

“We must stand together in the face of hate and protect our immigrant communities. For many, the threat of deportation is an especially difficult challenge to overcome, and often financial barriers prevent them from having fair representation. We want to knock that financial wall down. This is why it is so important, especially now, to ensure funding for programs like the Vera Institute of Justice’s New York Immigrant Family Unity Project so that immigrants facing deportation have a fair day in court. I will continue to fight for this funding in the 2017 legislative session and beyond,” said Senator Klein.

“In the community I represent in Washington Heights I am confronted nearly everyday with questions from constituents about their future in this county. Now more than ever we must work together to ensure that immigrant communities are protected. This funding for the Vera Institute secured by the IDC is an important step and I look forward to continuing to work to allocate funding to this program next year,” said Senator-Elect Alcantara.

“Intolerance and hate will never be accepted in this state and we will always stand up against it. Immigrants are the fabric of our great nation and of this state and we will protect those who face the fear of being separated from their families through deportation. It is important for every person to have legal representation and I’m proud the IDC secured funding for the Vera Institute’s great work. We will continue to advocate for funding so that every immigrant can have a public attorney at their side,” said Senator Hamilton.

“We will never tolerate hate in this state and we must always remember that this nation is one made up of immigrants. I’m proud that as a member of the IDC, I worked to secure funds to ensure that immigrants in this state facing deportation have legal representation. The fear of losing your family is unbearable and the fear of losing a deportation case while unrepresented is simply frightening. We will work to make sure that we continue to fund public defenders for our immigrants,” said Senator Savino.

“Hate and intolerance towards any community in New York is unacceptable and must be stood up to by all. The Vera Institute of Justice does the important job of providing those immigrants facing deportation with legal representation who may otherwise be left to fend for themselves. As a conference, the IDC has continuously fought for immigrants rights and we will continue to do so with programs like these,” said Senator Avella.

“In the aftermath of the Presidential election millions of New Yorkers are fearful of the draconian immigration rhetoric espoused by Mr. Trump during the campaign. The threat of mass deportations and covert roundup squads are eerily reflective of authoritarian and fascist regimes throughout history and the world today,” said Minister Kirsten John Foy,  Northeast Regional Director, National Action Network. “We in the civil and human rights community along with those in the immigrant rights community and other progressive voices stand with Senator Jeff Klein and the IDC as they demonstrate leadership in protecting all New Yorkers from the scourge of xenophobia. Once again Senator Klein and the IDC have put their votes where their mouths are and will fight for much needed increases in funding for legal services to protect our immigrant relatives, neighbors, friends and fellow New Yorkers and we proudly applaud and support these efforts!”

The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) was launched in 2013 as a pilot program to provide representation for indigent detained people in proceedings at Varick Street Immigration Court. The program increases the chances that immigrants will win their cases by 1,000 percent.  Their efforts are devoted to detained immigration courts because of the low representation rates that exist at these locations.  The program is currently meeting 100% of the need in New York City; however, there is a need for more funding in courts outside the city. New York State has six immigration courts.

Members of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project Coalition include: the Vera Institute of Justice Immigration Justice Clinic; Immigration Justice Clinic, Cardozo Law School;  Make the Road New York; Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Brooklyn Defender Services; Legal Aid Society; The Bronx Defenders; and Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Erie County Bar Association.

The $250,000 in funding secured by Senator Klein and the IDC will be used at the Batavia and Napanoch, New York detained immigration courts located in Upstate New York.  Vera Institute of Justice’s NYIFUP is currently serving 13% of the need at Batavia and 48% of the need at Napanoch.

During next year’s legislative session the IDC will work with the state and city to secure $11.1 million in total funding for the NYIFUP program that will allow for 100% representation for those in immigration court in New York. The Vera Institute of Justice has estimated that this would save the state $5.9 million in annual savings, by cutting costs for public health insurance programs and foster care services.

“The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project protects New Yorkers who have a legal right to stay in the United States from being unjustly torn from their families and our communities. The Vera Institute of Justice, a member of the NYIFUP Coalition, applauds Senator Klein for his foresight and leadership on this issue of such critical importance to all New Yorkers,” said Oren Root, director of the Center on Immigration and Justice at the Vera Institute of Justice.

EDITOR"S NOTE:

During the Question and answer period it was said that almost two-thirds of all immigrant detentions should not even happen, and the Unity project is there to erase any marks that lead to frivolous detentions, while helping those who may have minor violations overcome them to become legal immigrants here in this country. When I asked what the ratio of serious crime detention was I was answered with a statement by Minister Kristen Foy of the National Action Network who said that is what President Elect Trump wants the media to believe, without answering my question.