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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Catherine Gonzalez, Supervising Attorney and Policy Counsel at Brooklyn Defender Services
4:42:04
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124 sec
Catherine Gonzalez from Brooklyn Defender Services testifies about the critical importance of the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYFUP) in the face of recent federal immigration policies. She highlights the complex challenges faced by immigrant communities and the need for extensive legal resources to address these issues.
- Emphasizes the impact of federal policies on NYFUP clients, including detention transfers and the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Discusses the use of the Alien Enemies Act against immigrants and the need for emergency federal litigation
- Stresses the importance of NYFUP funding in supporting immigrants' due process rights in local proceedings
Catherine Gonzalez
4:42:04
Good afternoon.
4:42:05
My name is Kathryn Gonzales.
4:42:06
I'm a supervising attorney and policy counsel at Brooklyn Defender Services, one of the NIFA providers here in New York City.
4:42:12
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
4:42:14
Now more than ever, New York City's NIFA program is needed to meet this unprecedented moment.
4:42:20
I wanna highlight the ways in which the recent federal policies and practices have affected clients represented by the NYF UP program and why our advocacy is needed today.
4:42:30
NYF UP serves New York immigrant communities in complex immigration matters in a rapidly changing legal immigration landscape.
4:42:37
This complex nature of clients cases requires extensive preparation and resources.
4:42:43
The current federal immigration enforcement policies have a range of serious consequences for New Yorkers.
4:42:49
Our offices have continued to represent people whether detained locally or transferred across the country, which we're seeing more and more.
4:42:57
With the Supreme Court allowing the administration to end TPS, for example, more of our previously protected clients with families and lives here in New York will be detained and are being detained by ICE.
4:43:08
With the weaponizing of war powers against immigrants through the Alien Enemies Act, people who we represent are being threatened with removal to seek cotton in El Salvador and other third countries with no due process.
4:43:20
And this change has necessitated the filing of emergency federal litigation to prevent the unlawful rendition and disappearance of immigrant New Yorkers and removal proceedings.
4:43:29
After the Supreme Court case, we expect to litigate on an expedited basis more individuals habeas petitions to challenge the use of the Alien Enemies Act against our clients, and not just clients from Venezuela but other nationalities targeted by recent State Department designations including people from Central America and Haiti.
4:43:48
When ICE arrests immigrants prior to the resolution of their pending local cases here in New York, it is infringing upon their ability to participate in their local non immigration court proceedings pending here in New York.
4:43:59
Funding NYF UP supports New Yorkers' ability to exercise due process in local proceedings here in New York, including housing, family, and criminal court.
4:44:07
Thank you so much.