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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Jodi Ziesemer, Director of New York Legal Assistance Group, on Immigration Legal Services Funding

4:46:38

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Jodi Ziesemer from the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) testified about the need for increased funding for immigrant legal services in New York City. She emphasized the importance of these services in protecting immigrant rights and responding to enforcement actions.

Called for additional budget allocation for flexible and innovative legal service programming
Highlighted the need for restoration of $600,000 in cuts to the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative
Emphasized the role of legal services in responding to ICE enforcement actions and preserving due process for immigrants

Jodi Ziesemer

4:46:38

Thank you.

4:46:39

My name is Jodi Ziesmer.

4:46:40

I'm testifying on behalf of the New York Legal Assistance Group or NILAG.

4:46:45

Our city has repeatedly noted its commitment to our immigrant communities.

4:46:49

Legal service funding is essential to preserve the rights of immigrants and keep families from the harm of detainment, deportation, and more.

4:46:57

We call for additional dollars to be allocated to the city budget for these services.

4:47:02

Increased investment that supports innovative and flexible legal service programming to respond to the ongoing and emergent needs of our communities will give immigrant New Yorkers a chance to live, work, and thrive in our city.

4:47:15

As noted by this committee, response to emergency enforcement action, as we've seen when ICE comes into our immigration courts and detains respondents, when ICE arrests students at our city colleges, and the need to challenge deportation to third countries and to preserve due process in the deportation process requires flexible and robust funding, including programming such as collaborative and the immigrant opportunities initiative, IOI collaborative.

4:47:51

I will note that this budget of fiscal year twenty six does not restore the $600,000 in cuts from fiscal year twenty five to the rapid response legal collaborative.

4:48:05

We are the organizations that have responded to taking cases for immigrant New Yorkers who are being detained and deported rapidly.

4:48:15

We are collaborating on both a local and national level to supplement some of the NIFA funding and programming, as well as provide emergency flexible legal response to the enforcement actions that are coming at a very rapid pace.

4:48:32

We also do track and report back to Moya about enforcement actions.

4:48:38

So that is something that, again, we ask for restoration of that funding in order to continue those services.

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Testimony by Deborah Lee, Attorney in Charge of the Immigration Law Unit at Legal Aid Society

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Testimony by Luis Mancheno, Supervising Attorney of New York Immigrant Family Unity Project at The Legal Aid Society