No Borders NewsGovernor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, and Attorney General Letitia James said they are pushing back against what they call aggressive federal immigration enforcement. They also reminded New Yorkers of rights and protections, framing the announcement as support for vulnerable people affected by federal actions.
Hochul announced $7.25 million in new state funding to provide legal services for about 1,400 unaccompanied immigrant children and youth in New York who are in active removal proceedings. The state says more than 250 of those children are currently detained.
The governor tied the funding to instability after a federal contract ended on July 31. According to the announcement, the lack of clear replacement arrangements left children without the legal support they rely on, and New York is stepping in to bridge that gap.
The New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) will carry out contracts totaling $7.25 million with a coalition of legal services providers, led by the Hispanic Federation. The state says the funding will help children access legal representation and related support through a network of community providers.
The announcement also describes ONA’s broader work, including a hotline, rapid legal assistance, and “know-your-rights” trainings for adults and children. It adds that New York has previously increased funding for ONA and is continuing efforts to limit what it calls federal overreach.
The excerpt further states that Hochul signed a state law earlier this year aimed at limiting ICE-related cooperation, including restrictions on certain agreements that would allow local or state resources to be used for civil immigration enforcement. The full details of that law are not included in the excerpt, so readers should check the official release for specifics.