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Q&A
Discussion on impact of federal budget cuts on immigrant services
1:17:44
ยท
104 sec
Council Member Shahana Hanif inquires about the potential impact of federal budget cuts on immigrant services in New York City. Commissioner Manuel Castro's response is limited, but he reiterates his concerns about the impact on immigrant communities.
- Castro avoids directly addressing the budget cuts question
- He restates his concerns about detention and deportation risks for immigrants
- Castro emphasizes the need for comprehensive immigration reform
- Hanif expresses frustration with the lack of clear answers and the administration's collaboration with federal policies
Shahana Hanif
1:17:44
How would federal budget cuts being conducted or being proposed by Elon Musk and Doge impact services that the city offers to immigrant New Yorkers?
Manuel Castro
1:17:57
I you know, I can't weigh in on that, but just to to your previous point, I I have in my testimony and in answering questions here expressed my concern about the impact on immigrant communities, potential for detention, deportation.
1:18:15
And I mean, before joining the administration, have been a longtime advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and for us to address a broken immigration system for exactly this same reason.
1:18:31
And I've continued to do so while in my role as commissioner and will continue to do so after I'm done here.
1:18:40
Just want to make clear that whenever we do have an opportunity to fix our broken immigration system, must happen.
1:18:49
Otherwise, we find in this situation that we are in today.
Shahana Hanif
1:18:55
Well, this is quite disappointing to say the least, and given your introductory remarks about immigrants needing to feel safe, protected, and that we are the city that that has been doing that, and then not being able to respond to the impacts of the federal government's choices and our own administration's choices to collaborate is infuriating.