Governor Kathy Hochul just confirmed what many New Yorkers feared. The state will allocate $50 million in taxpayer funds to cover legal services for migrants arrested by federal immigration authorities. The announcement came during a press event following the release of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, who was briefly detained by ICE after interfering with an enforcement operation. Hochul stood beside him and declared the state would fund legal representation for others in similar situations. The money is not new. It was already baked into the state budget passed in early May. But the public didn’t know it was earmarked for this.
The funding is part of a broader legal aid package that immigrant advocacy groups have been pushing for years. They wanted $165 million. They got $64.2 million. Hochul’s $50 million announcement is a slice of that total. It’s being directed toward a legislative proposal called “Access to Representation,” which would guarantee legal counsel in immigration court. That bill hasn’t passed. Hochul hasn’t endorsed it. But the money is moving anyway.
The contracts are already in motion. Three out-of-state property management firms have been hired to oversee migrant housing and legal coordination. The total value of those contracts exceeds $200 million. The legal aid portion is just one piece. The rest covers housing, transportation, and case management. The payments are recurring. The oversight is minimal.
Sources:
https://www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-mayoral-candidate-arrest-ice-spokesperson-says