TESTIMONY
Sierra Kraft, Executive Director of the Immigrant Children Advocates' Relief Effort (ICARE), on Improving Legal Representation for Unaccompanied Immigrant Minors
6:32:39
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130 sec
Sierra Kraft advocates for enhanced legal support for unaccompanied immigrant minors facing deportation in New York City.
- ICARE provides free legal representation for immigrant children, contributing to a 90% case success rate.
- Unaccompanied minors without legal representation have only a 15% chance of winning their cases, risking rapid deportation.
- Kraft highlights the dire need for increased city council funding, having received no funding increase in over 5 years.
- She requests $4.9 million to serve nearly 1,700 children and families with legal aid and other essential services.
- Kraft emphasizes the crucial role of legal representation in safeguarding the futures of young immigrants and upholding New York's values.
Sierra Kraft
6:32:39
Hi.
6:32:40
Good afternoon.
6:32:41
Thank you, Chair Brandon, and the Finance Committee for inviting testimony.
6:32:44
My name is Sierra Craft, and I'm the executive director at eye care.
6:32:47
We are a coalition of legal service organizations providing free representation to unaccompanied immigrant children facing deportation in New York City while advocating for universal access to counsel.
6:32:58
Having access to an attorney can be a matter of life or death or immigrant children and families.
6:33:03
Immigrants aren't granted the right to an attorney and immigration proceedings, not even if they are a child.
6:33:09
Children are fleeing violence and trauma in their home country in search of safety protection and opportunities, and New York ranks 4th highest in the country for unaccompanied arrivals with over 8000 young New Yorkers arriving annually.
6:33:22
And without representation, they stand just a mere 15% chance of winning their case, resulting in rapid deportation, back to countries where their lives are at risk.
6:33:31
With the support from city council through the unaccompanied minors at Families Initiative, you've made it possible for the eye care coalition to stand alongside at over 12,000 young immigrants.
6:33:41
Children represented by eye care attorneys have over a 90% success rate.
6:33:46
Providing them the opportunity to pursue higher education, meaningful careers, and leadership roles in a city they now call home.
6:33:53
ICare attorneys are on the front lines every day defending immigrant rights and upholding New York values.
6:33:59
However, we have not received an increase in funding in over 5 years.
6:34:02
While thousands of young immigrants await to receive legal support vulnerable to detention if they cannot deportation if they cannot find or afford an attorney.
6:34:11
So today, we're urgently calling upon city council to prioritize funding for the many unaccompanied minors that New York City that are in reliance on New York City's critical legal services.
6:34:23
Our coalition of 7 providers seeks 4,900,000 this year to serve nearly 1700 children and families to provide legal screenings on your right training, direct representation, and referrals to city and social services.
6:34:37
Now more than ever, it is critical that we stand in solidarity with children seeking safety and protection in this city.
6:34:43
We look forward to our continued partnership with you all to update our values as a sanctuary city.
6:34:48
Alright.
6:34:49
Thank you so much.