Governor Kathy Hochul’s $2.4 Billion Aid Package for NYC Migrants: Will Undocumented Communities Benefit?

Just a few hours before dusk Governor Kathy Hochul announced this Monday a preliminary agreement with the state legislature on the state budget NYby fiscal year 2025, a big question arose at the heart of several community groups: Will they be included in this package of $237 billion some laws that would be a great benefit to the communities undocumented migrants?

In the “capital letters” of the state president’s announcement, the answer is: No, although there are still a few days of consideration left, to close agreements with a democratic majority of the State Assembly and the Senate, before signing the final budget.

The only point that Hochul highlighted, related to migrants, was the agreement of a A $2.4 billion relief plan, hence the Big Apple can continue to fight migration crisisdriven by the arrival of thousands of migrants who are still arriving seeking refuge.

“Let’s be clear, Republicans They received orders from the vice president to block any substantive solution to this border crisis.. Our opportunity is to help the City address this humanitarian problem,” said the governor.

Push for ‘NY for All’

Before you know the bells of this agreement, spokespeople for the coalition said ‘New York for everyone’ – made up of more than ten groups that oppose the protection of immigrants and civil rights – gathered at the state capitol headquarters in Albany, loudly shouting: New York is our home. Here we are. And here we live!

With the pressure of the end of the budget negotiations, community and elected leaders asked that they not delay the next days of negotiations in the so-called days New York for All Lawwhich prohibits local security forces and state agencies from working hand in hand with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

This bill is coded as S.03076/A.02328 It was first introduced in 2019.

The proposal prohibits ICE and CBP agencies from entering non-public areas of state and local property, without a court order, ensuring that people are in custody being informed of their rights before being interviewed by these federal agencies. It also begins the process to limit ICE and CBP access to databases with state information.

“We don’t want to continue working and leading our lives in fear. For 20 years now I have been afraid of any contact with the police or any simple traffic mistake, I separated from my family. And that my children will not grow up with that trauma, that their father will never return home,” said Luis Jimenez, spokesperson for the Federation of Agriculture.

At the protest, Luis shared the story of a former employee friend A medical emergency ended up “stuck” in export cases.

“My partner was treated like a criminal. That is not fair to the thousands of families who have come just to contribute to the economy. “Honest, hardworking families deserve this protection,” the migrant finished.

A complex landscape

According to statutory sources added The newspaperthe New York for All bill, which has been delayed for five years since it was introduced in a state senate committee, going into some very complicated territory especially this year.

Indeed, the migration crisis and a series of isolated cases of violent incidents committed by recently arrived immigrantson the other hand, he put on the table, the need to review the collaboration of the New York city authorities, considered a ‘sanctuary city’, with La Migra.

“Passing this legislation at this time, when many New York voters and even Democratic elected leaders, They want more radical measures against the minority of migrants who commit crimes, and even more border controls, it doesn’t seem very feasible this year,” the source said.

For his part, the Mexican agricultural worker Salvador Gutiérrez, 32 years oldwho live on Long Island believe that it is “inhumane”, due to the negative actions of a minority group, decisions are made that are more political than practical.

“We have seen how the laws have been reversed. While farm workers are subject to deportation proceedings for violating traffic laws in upstate New York. We see how they catch criminals in the city, steal red-handed and beat up police officers. And they let them out. This is cruel, absurd and even stupid.” said the agricultural worker.

This Monday community leaders took over the State Capitol.Credit: Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) | With permission

“Opportunities for Success”

Other analysts consulted confirm that there is a thesis that New York could take a step forward by putting a ‘pro-immigration’ law in the balance, at a time when yes red states like Texas and Florida, They are pushing for tougher laws against undocumented immigrants.

“From any political logic one can think that because a group of migrants were committing crimes, then these isolated incidents, It will cut the wings of initiatives that would ultimately protect New York’s essential workers. “These proposals are far from helping dangerous criminals hide from the authorities,” he said.

Likewise, the Queens Senator Jessica Ramos in his speech before the group of activists, led by the activists of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) believes that a group of legislators is struggling to pass the budget as soon as possible,” but with key protections for the working class.

“I am proud to be the daughter of Colombian immigrants. And I am in this position to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable. Our people deserve not only to exist, but to have opportunities to succeed. That is why I fully support legislation that will allow us to overcome the fear of our communities,” defended the legislator.

Also on the list of priorities of the coalition of groups that support immigrants is the proposal ‘Trust, No Law of Retention’ which could end ICE’s contracts with local jails, reuniting people with their families and at the same time allowing them to fight with more capacity against exports.

Some also hope it will see the green light, no later than next week, the ‘Representational Access Act’ which creates a right to counsel in New York State immigration courts for immigrants at risk of deportation and ensures funding for high-quality, sustainable immigration legal services.

Is medical insurance for everyone?

In the state Capitol until the end, movements that protect civil rights and community groups also asked the state government not to interfere with the ability of the people of New York all, regardless of their immigration status, Access to health insurance can be prohibitive.

In early March, the Senate and State Senate introduced the ‘Coverage for All’ bill in their budget proposals, which translates to measure to ensure that approximately 150,000 poor, uninsured New Yorkers, access to the preventative care they need.

It is considered that 255,000 New Yorkers, ages 19 to 65are excluded from health insurance (such as Medicaid and the Essential Plan) because they are undocumented.

This legislation assisted by the senator from the Bronx, Gustavo Rivera, solve this problem by expanding the Essential Plan for low-income New Yorkers, that meet income requirements (up to 250% of the federal poverty level).

This would be done using federal funds that can only be used for health care extension through a “pass through” account.

This bill would direct the The Commissioner for Health (COH) changes its referral program 1332, to seek coverage for some undocumented people, who live in the state.

Already in effect, the COH would have the authority to remove restrictions on the registration of this population, with an extension of the minimum coverage of 240,000 people and would authorize him to cover people beyond that number.

“Health is a human right, not a privilege. As we have said many times with very clear technical arguments, This legislation will not cost New York, but save it. It’s a simple solution to a big problem. There will be millions and millions of dollars that state coffers will save from the Medicaid crisis. “I have every hope that we will achieve it this year,” the Queen’s collector decided, Jessica Rojas, one of the promoters of this campaign.

The data:

• 10 groups make up the coalition ‘Ny para Todos’: Immigrant Defense Project, Bronx Defenders, Elderly Release from Prison, Center for Community Alternatives, Violence Intervention Program, Alianza Agricola, New York Immigrant Coalition, Vera Institute of Justice, Families for Freedom and New York Civil Liberties Union.