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Council Member Avilés questions Commissioner Park on immigrant legal services funding
2:46:09
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143 sec
Council Member Alexa Avilés questions Commissioner Molly Wasow Park about the budget for immigrant legal services, expressing concern over the lack of increased funding despite growing demand. Commissioner Park confirms that the budget remains flat at $35 million for FY 2026, with no current plans for enhancement.
- Avilés highlights the influx of over 210,000 immigrants since 2022 and the council's call for a $109 million enhancement.
- Park acknowledges the partnership with the council but doesn't commit to requesting additional funding from OMB.
- Avilés expresses dismay at the lack of increased funding given the current political climate and demand for services.
Alexa Avilés
2:46:09
I wanna ask about legal services, legal services funding.
2:46:14
In the executive plan, the fiscal twenty five budget for immigrant legal services is 68,800,000.0, of which 25,300,000.0 is funded through council discretionary initiatives.
2:46:26
The funding for the immigration legal services has remained relatively stagnant compared to prior years despite the influx of more than 210,000 immigrants to New York City since 2022.
2:46:39
In the fiscal twenty six preliminary budget response, the council called to add 109,000,000 for the immigration legal services enhancement.
2:46:51
What is the budget for immigrant legal services in fiscal twenty six and in the out years?
Molly Wasow Park
2:46:57
For the out years, it is about $35,000,000 thus far.
2:47:04
We do very much appreciate our partnership with the council and the funds that get added for immigration legal services, and we certainly look forward to working with you in the future.
Alexa Avilés
2:47:14
So for the fiscal twenty six, do you have a number on what the services is?
2:47:22
Is it the same?
2:47:23
Is
Molly Wasow Park
2:47:23
it?
2:47:24
Sorry, the, yeah, the number that I just cited was the FY twenty six number specifically for immigration legal services, which is about $35,000,000.
2:47:35
That is
Alexa Avilés
2:47:36
in the no increase despite an enormous increase in demand, despite a violent federal government that is coming after forty percent of New Yorkers that are immigrants.
2:47:49
The administration has decided it won't add one more dollar for that.
Molly Wasow Park
2:47:53
At this time, the budget is flat funded, yes.
Alexa Avilés
2:47:57
Will you ask OMB for an enhancement?
Molly Wasow Park
2:48:02
We are happy to engage with OMB on what the budget looks like.
Alexa Avilés
2:48:07
Have you requested a baseline of this budget from the city for these services in particular?
Molly Wasow Park
2:48:14
We're working very closely with OMB on the Office of Civil Justice budget as a whole.
2:48:21
We have not specifically asked for an increase to the IOI baseline.
Alexa Avilés
2:48:25
Got it.
2:48:27
Deeply dismayed by this information, but thank you.
2:48:32
Thank you, Chair.