Caribbean immigration advocates claim that while New York State’s budget provides some investments for Caribbean and other immigrants, it does not go far enough.
The New York State Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, May 27, passed a US$268.5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2027.
This includes investments of US$82.4 million for immigrant legal services, US$50 million for the Housing Access Voucher Program pilot, US$3 million for the Census Planning Commission, and historic increases in funding for childcare, education, and support for public schools.
“However, Albany fell short in providing the robust investments necessary to truly meet the moment we are in, where immigrant families face the threat of family separation each and every day, while struggling with an affordability crisis, rising inflation and federal benefits cuts,” Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, told Caribbean Life.
“Immigrant New Yorkers are navigating one of the most aggressive political landscapes, as the federal government continues to advance policies rooted in fear, punishment, and the separation of families,” he added.
“This year’s budget reflects a clear and important acknowledgement from Albany of its responsibility to take action, but ultimately falls short in making deeper advances towards the most critical investments to protect and support immigrant New Yorkers in their time of need,” Awawdeh continued.
He said while New York State increased its investments in immigration legal services from the baseline funding set two years ago, the Fiscal Year 2017 budget “falls short of meeting the urgent need facing thousands of families to access legal help that can determine whether they can remain together and in their communities.
“We will continue to work with our members and partners to demand New York deliver a comprehensive and fully funded legal defense system to ensure the health and well-being of our communities and economy,” Awawdeh said.
Similarly, he said the Fiscal Year 2027 budget makes initial investments to support Caribbean and other communities in the face of continued Trump administration funding cuts and a sustained affordability crisis, but added that more must be done.
However, Awawdeh acknowledged increased investments in nutrition assistance, a US$50 million allocation for the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) pilot, continued base-lining of funding to support language access, and the US$3 million investment in the census commission “as down payments that build long-term public infrastructure that strengthen community stability, ensure equitable access to opportunity, and recognize that immigrant and low-income families are essential to the social and economic fabric of New York.”
He said while New York State “missed an opportunity to fully meet the moment”, [it] rose to the occasion to meet the critical needs of New York students with unprecedented and robust investments in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
“We commend Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for guaranteeing access to education to all New York children regardless of immigration status by codifying Plyler v. Doe in state law, passing robust protections to protect immigrant students when they are at school, and for the largest funding increase in childcare and early childhood education in the state’s history,” Awawdeh said.
He said integrating universal 3-K into the NYS Pre-K program, expansions in services, and changes to the Foundation Aid funding formula for schools will help ensure New York children have the “strongest possible start in life and the opportunity to succeed.
“We look forward to working with the governor and State Legislature during the legislative session to build on this momentum and advance bold, lasting policies that ensure every New Yorker can put down roots, support their families, and fully participate in the life of this state,” Awawdeh said.
