Migrants must wait nearly two years for a free legal consultation in the state of New York, in the United States. That’s why the Access to Legal Representation (ARA) bill, the first of its kind in the nation, would make it a right to be represented at the state level by an attorney at your appointments with the immigration authorities.
“When I arrived in this country I was completely unaware of what an asylum is, a T visa, I didn’t speak English or anything like that,” says Nirvana García, an LGBTQ Mexican migrant.
As a result, Garcia, a transgender person with a complex case behind him, nearly lost his case.
“They didn’t understand my story, they told me that I could be deported, at least I understood that way, so I was very scared and I said I’d rather be illegal,” García continues.
Access to legal representation would give light to many cases like his and the opportunity for the more than 65,000 migrants who have recently arrived in New York to rebuild their lives and contribute to the country’s economy.
“Right now my dreams in this country are to help my family and already with a business,” says Amílcar Rojas.
This bill requires 130 million dollars in funds that must be approved in the state budget, and the deadline to be included is this April 1st.
