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Dear Friends:
One of the victories we're proudest of this year is the passage of a truly progressive marijuana legalization bill that is already protecting immigrant New Yorkers.
Now, we're expanding our fight against the Drug War and we need your support. Will you pledge $100 today? With a matching gift from our partners at FJC, that’s $200 that will support our work to pass marijuana legalization on the federal level.
You might be wondering why legalizing marijuana is an immigration issue at all. Because of harsh immigration laws, a marijuana offense can trigger a cascade of cruel consequences for immigrants including the denial of citizenship, detention and deportation. For decades, this has meant that the War on Drugs has fueled not only mass incarceration, but also mass detention and mass deportation.
That’s why IDP was thrilled to celebrate the passage of truly progressive drug reform in New York State with our criminal justice allies- reform that focuses on community reinvestment and includes special provisions that allow immigrants to safely vacate marijuana convictions.
Since the law’s passage, IDP has worked hard to educate community members and attorneys on what the new law means for immigrants. We have:
- Published explainers on the new bill in English and Spanish
- Participated in town halls organized by Sen. Rivera and Sen. Ramos
- Worked hand-in-hand with public defenders to monitor implementation in the courts
- Organized a Train-the-Trainer with the Bronx Defenders, Drug Policy Alliance, and The Legal Aid Society that was viewed by more than 200 people
- Spoken to the press including City Limits and DocumentedNY
The IDP Team
P.S. To learn more about IDP's fight against the Drug War, click here.
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