The NYS Legislature came to a close with a whimper, after failing to pass four critical bills.

View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]
Credit to Oscar Castillo
Dear John,

As the legislative session wrapped up yesterday, it became clear Albany lawmakers lacked the political courage to pass common sense policies to protect immigrant New York families at a time when xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant sentiment are rising across the state.

While Albany did earmark a historic $73 million dollars for legal services funding for low-income immigrant New Yorkers during the budget session, Albany failed to advance four critical bills that would have protected the safety and well-being of our communities. Here’s where our bills stood at the close of session yesterday:
* The New York for All Act ([link removed]) , which helps keep New York families together by barring local law enforcement from colluding with ICE, did not move in either House, despite having the votes needed in the Senate and the support in the Assembly, as well as widespread support from labor ([link removed]) and local elected officials ([link removed]) .
* The Language Access Expansion Act ([link removed]) passed the Senate but failed to make it through the Assembly. If passed, the bill would expand access to government information and resources by making it available in more languages to more New Yorkers.
* The Access to Representation Act ([link removed]) codifies the right to an attorney in immigration court. It was funded in the budget ([link removed]) , but it did not make it to a vote in either House.
* The Coverage for All Act ([link removed]) passed the Senate and built significant momentum but failed to get prioritized in the Assembly. This bill simply gives low-income immigrant New Yorkers a chance to attain affordable health insurance at no cost to the state.

We are deeply disappointed and expected more for our communities. Our immigrant neighbors are the crucial backbone of New York—we won’t let Albany or anyone else forget that truth.
Power Our Fight For Immigrant Justice! ([link removed])
We will be back next legislative session to ensure every New Yorker can live safely and thrive.
In solidarity,
Murad Awawdeh
Executive Director
Power Our Fight For Immigrant Justice! ([link removed])

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
Copyright © 2019 New York Immigration Coalition, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
New York Immigration Coalition
131 W 33rd St Ste 610
New York, NY 10001-2967
** Add us to your address book ([link removed])

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.
** DONATE ([link removed])

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
New York Immigration Coalition . 131 W 33rd St Ste 610 . New York, NY 10001-2967 . USA