Vera urges $175M for counsel
The Vera Institute called on New York leaders to allocate $175 million in the FY27 budget for immigrant legal services, arguing expanded representation is needed to counter federal enforcement shifts. The appeal underscores a broader push by advocates to secure stable state funding for counsel and immigration support. (x.com)
Vera is fronting the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity (CARE) for Immigrant Families, which links its budget push to passage of the Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act. (vera.org) The Access to Representation Act (A.270 / S.141) explicitly adds Executive Law §94‑e to establish a statutory right to counsel in immigration court proceedings. (nysenate.gov) The BUILD Act (A.2689 / S.4538) would create competitive workforce‑development and capacity‑building grants administered through the Office of New Americans to expand provider infrastructure. (nysenate.gov) Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY27 executive budget proposed $72.4 million for immigration legal services, a figure advocates contrasted with the Legislature’s one‑house budget proposals. (vera.org) Vera’s March 10, 2026 statement and CARE communications said the Legislature’s actions during the FY27 process produced a combined allocation exceeding $183 million for immigration legal and social services. (vera.org) Advocates cited more than 327,000 pending immigration cases statewide and noted public backing from unions and legal‑services groups as part of the broader push to scale representation capacity. (newsbreak.com)
