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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sophia Gurulé, Trustee and Constitutional Officer of United Auto Workers Local 2325, on NYIFUP Funding
7:06:51
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3 min
Sophia Gurulé, representing UAW Local 2325, testified in support of doubling funding for the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project (NYIFUP) from $5.5 million to $11.06 million per organization. She emphasized the critical need for increased funding to retain experienced legal services workers and provide consistent, high-quality representation for immigrant New Yorkers facing deportation.
- Highlighted high turnover rates in immigrant legal services, with the Bronx Defenders losing nearly half of its immigration practice staff in less than two years.
- Stressed the importance of manageable caseloads and fair salaries to retain experienced advocates and ensure quality representation.
- Invited City Council members to observe NYIFUP in action through virtual courtrooms to understand the essential nature of their work.
Sophia Gurulé
7:06:51
Thank you all for the opportunity to testify.
7:06:54
My name is Sofia Gurule, and I am a trustee and constitutional officer elected union wide by the workers of the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys, United Auto Workers Local two three two five, which represents over 3,400 legal services workers, including immigration legal services workers at the three NIFA organizations, the Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, and the Legal Aid Society.
7:07:15
UAW two three two five supports the three NIFA organizations in their request to double NIFA funding from 5,500,000.0 per organization to 11,060,000.00 per organization.
7:07:26
As a UAW two three two five elected leader as a line staff attorney in the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project, I'm here to emphasize the dire need for increased NIFA funding.
7:07:36
I have worked as a senior staff attorney in NIFA since September 2017.
7:07:40
Though I testified today in my individual union capacity and not on behalf of my employer, the Bronx Defenders, my testimony today is based on my nearly eight years of experience representing detained and nondetained New Yorkers facing deportation under three different presidential administrations.
7:07:55
Currently, the UAW is hemorrhaging legal services workers whose expertise is in detained and nondetained removal defense.
7:08:02
The UAW has lost approximately 20 immigrant legal services workers at the Bronx Defenders in less than two years.
7:08:08
For context, that is nearly half of the current staffing numbers in the immigration practice.
7:08:12
With my nearly eight years of experience, I'm somehow the most senior staff attorney working in NIFA at the Bronx Defenders, which often shocks my union siblings in different practice areas at organizations like the Legal Aid Society.
7:08:24
However, high NIFA worker turnover is avoidable.
7:08:27
Our ability to stay in NIFA depends on having manageable case loads and salaries that allow us to afford our rent and bills, including our student loan payments.
7:08:34
Our wins as unionized workers are wins for the poor and working class citywide, union and nonunion alike.
7:08:40
When workers working conditions thrive, the community thrives.
7:08:43
So when any of the NYFIP organizations lose these workers, that means immigrant New Yorkers who depend on essential deportation defense legal services are not receiving the most experienced advocates or the most consistent
Jasniya Sanchez
7:08:54
legal support.
7:08:55
Testimony.
7:08:55
Your time has expired.
Sophia Gurulé
7:08:56
Last years.
7:08:58
Can I finish my remarks?
Justin Brannan
7:09:00
Sure.
7:09:00
Go ahead.
Sophia Gurulé
7:09:02
So this is when workers leave, that caseload is an off late offloaded to committed advocates, but those advocates are increasingly overburdened, less familiar with the nuances of that person's case, and who are doing their best to stay informed and on top of rapidly changing immigration law and policy changes.
7:09:18
I can personally attest it is extremely challenging every time a worker leaves an IFF.
7:09:23
Providing stable legal services is essential to ensure immigrant New Yorkers are materially supported against an explicitly hostile Trump administration.
7:09:31
Our work keeps families together.
7:09:32
It keeps essential caretakers employed.
7:09:34
It ensures immigrant New Yorkers have a consistent legal team to call upon when the Trump administration finds new, fun, creative ways to terrorize people.
7:09:43
New Yorkers need experienced attorneys, paralegal, social workers because an experienced knife of advocate necessarily means retaining a knowledgeable, fearless, and creative advocate.
7:09:53
I can send the rest of my written testimony, later, but I do wanna invite any of you from the city council to, you know, witness and observe knife up in action.
7:10:02
It's very easy to do.
7:10:03
You can, go to the virtual courtrooms.
7:10:05
You can watch any of us.
7:10:06
You can reach out to anyone at the UAW, and we can connect you to making that possible.
7:10:11
I really highly recommend it.
7:10:13
It's essential to understand just how essential our our work is.
7:10:17
You can observe bond hearings.
7:10:18
You can observe deportation trials, or you could just sit a day in the virtual immigration courtroom of immigration judge Charles Conroy, who is often required to handle the pro state cases before a knife of attorney is ever actually assigned.
7:10:32
So I'm happy to answer questions.
7:10:33
I know I'm well beyond my time, and I'll I'll be providing the rest of my written testimony.