REMARKS
Council Member Crystal Hudson advocates for immigrant rights and legal representation
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Council Member Crystal Hudson discusses her efforts to expand legal representation for immigrants and urges support for state legislation to protect immigrant rights. She emphasizes the importance of providing free legal services to marginalized communities and standing up against xenophobia.
- Highlights the passage of a local law expanding right to counsel for people over 65
- Introduces a resolution urging state legislators to pass the Access to Representation Act
- Stresses the vital role of immigrants in New York City and the need to protect their rights
Crystal Hudson
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Thank you so much.
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In 2023, I passed a local law to expand the right to counsel to all people over the age of 65 regardless of income.
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And also in 2023, I passed resolution 556 urging the state legislature to pass and the governor to sign the access to representation 999 a.
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It is my sincere belief that we should do all in our power to give the most marginalized and vulnerable New Yorkers access to free legal services.
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And, as a city, we have rejected the idea that immigrants facing deportation or detention should be denied civil and legal protections.
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And now more than ever, we need the state to pass this vital legislation to show that it too stands with immigrant communities across New York.
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We've witnessed the disturbing rise in xenophobia across the nation.
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And in just a few days, we will see the start of a presidential administration that ran on a platform of dehumanizing immigrants, one that has promised to strip even more rights from an already vulnerable population.
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But in New York, we know the truth.
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Without immigrants, the city would simply not run.
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That's why alongside chair Aviles, I'm introducing another resolution urging our state legislators to pass a 170 a and s 999 a.
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The Access to Representation Act guarantees the right to legal representation regardless of citizenship status, and it is crucial to protecting all New Yorkers from the threats that endanger their safety and fundamental rights.
0:24:51
Thank you.