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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Grace Day, Staff Attorney at The Door
5:07:53
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146 sec
Grace Day, a staff attorney at The Door, testified about the importance of legal representation for unaccompanied immigrant children in New York City. She emphasized the critical role of the I CARE coalition in providing legal services and support to immigrant youth.
- Requested full funding of $6,300,000 for the I CARE Coalition and increased support due to current challenges
- Highlighted that children with legal representation are seven times more likely to access immigration relief
- Called for emergency funding for immigration legal service providers and expanded support through Welcome NYC and IOI funding
Grace Day
5:07:53
Good afternoon, council members, chair Avias, chair Renan.
5:07:56
My name is Grace Day.
5:07:57
I'm a staff attorney at the door, a comprehensive youth development organization that has been supporting young people in New York City since 1972.
5:08:04
We offer free access to health care, mental health services, housing support, education, meals, legal assistance.
5:08:11
And in 2024 alone, our legal services center handled more than 3,300 immigration matters.
5:08:17
Many of the young people that we represent are unaccompanied children and we are part of the I CARE coalition and receive funding from the city.
5:08:24
As we've been speaking about, you are aware that unaccompanied children enter The US without a parent or legal guardian.
5:08:31
These children often qualify for asylum or special visas for abused or abandoned children, but without legal support, they may never access the protection they deserve.
5:08:39
Shockingly, as I think you know, children have no right to an attorney in immigration court to help them plead their case.
5:08:45
Of course young children are unable to understand the complexities of ever changing immigration law and effectively argue the merits of their cases.
5:08:52
Children with representation in immigration court are seven times more likely to access immigration relief and therefore as we fight the uphill battle that the next four years will bring and are currently bringing as we're discussing, we ask for the support of city council in the face of a federal administration that is committed to targeting and terrorizing immigrant communities, our city can use our resources to defend these communities and to protect children.
5:09:15
I care funding for NYC youth is critically important because it provides essential legal representation for unaccompanied children in New York City who are now someone's over 18 who are unable to be represented on other federal contracts.
5:09:29
Increased funding for eye care at the door ensures that we can connect these youth to legal representation but also to our suite of other vital services, increasing the reach of this funding as we support these youth transitioning to adulthood.
5:09:40
By investing into the eye care coalition and expanding the support for the door, city council can help us protect immigrant youth, promote safety and stability for immigrant communities.
5:09:49
Today, I urge city council to support immigrant youth in the city.
5:09:53
Specifically, I echo Sarah and Sierra's request to fully fund the I Care Coalition for $6,300,000 and increase this funding as we face the tears that are, in our city.
5:10:04
Also,
Christopher Leon Johnson
5:10:05
ask
Grace Day
5:10:05
for the emergency funding for immigration legal services legal service providers and expanding the support through Welcome NYC and IOI funding.
5:10:12
With these supports, we can continue defending immigrant youth and offering them the protection and dignity they deserve.
5:10:17
Thank you for your time and consideration.