- New York lawmakers propose $175 million for legal services in the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget.
- The Access to Representation Act seeks to establish a right to counsel for those facing deportation.
- Advocates argue funding is critical as backlogs exceed 327,000 cases in New York immigration courts.
(ALBANY, NEW YORK) — New York State lawmakers put $175 million for immigrant legal services at the center of Fiscal Year 2027 budget talks in early March 2026, pitching the funding in both the Senate and Assembly One House Budgets as part of a broader $183 million plan for immigration social and legal services.
“To make that promise real, we are pushing for $175 million in funding for immigrant legal services in this year’s state budget, so every New Yorker has a fair chance to defend themselves in court,” said Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, who represents District 39.
State Senator John Liu tied the spending plan to a wider package of changes advocates want Albany to enact this year. “New York needs to fight back by fully funding immigration legal services, establishing a right to counsel, and bolstering workforce development throughout immigration court,” Liu said.
Advocates and several lawmakers say the proposal comes as New York’s immigration courts strain under backlogs exceeding 327,000 pending cases, a figure they argue translates into delays that keep families and employers in limbo.
Nearly 30% of individuals in proceedings in New York lack representation, according to the advocates backing the plan, who say that gap can shape case outcomes and slow the system as judges handle more unrepresented litigants.
Supporters also connect the push to the current enforcement environment, pointing to what they describe as a $170 billion federal budget for detention and deportation and arguing that state funding can help expand access to counsel and improve due process.
On March 10, 2026, the Campaign for Access, Representation, and Equity for Immigrant Families (CARE4IF) Coalition, elected officials, and immigrant New Yorkers rallied at the New York State Capitol in Albany to support the One House Budgets and urge final passage.
Ellen Pachnanda, CEO, Immigrant ARC, framed the figure as a baseline rather than an aspirational goal. “Fully funding immigration legal services at $175 million is the minimum New York must do to put words of support into practice,” Pachnanda said.
Sierra Kraft, Executive Director, ICARE Coalition, highlighted the need for representation for immigrant children navigating complex systems, as the rally drew attention to what backers described as the growing scale of cases and the limits of existing legal capacity.
Alongside the budget request, lawmakers and advocates also demand passage of two bills in the 2026 session that they say would change how legal help gets delivered across the state, especially for people who cannot afford private attorneys.
One measure, the Access to Representation Act (S141/A270), is sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris and Cruz and would establish a statewide right to counsel for those facing deportation who cannot afford it, supporters said. Advocates described it as the first such measure nationally.
A second proposal, the Building Up Immigrant Legal Defense (BUILD) Act (A2689/S4538), would create a four-year fund for workforce development, training immigration attorneys, expanding services to rural/suburban areas, and integrating social worker support.
Backers argue the bills and the $175 million request fit together because money alone does not guarantee representation if there are not enough trained lawyers, if programs cannot reach people outside major cities, or if providers lack wraparound support.
The One House figure also sets up a negotiation with Governor Kathy Hochul, whose Executive Budget includes $72.4 million for immigration legal services, a level advocates welcomed but called insufficient as they press for the higher amount.
New York City funding adds another layer to the debate, with advocates pointing to the NYC Adopted Budget for 2026 that includes $74.7 million to support nonprofit work like NYLAG, while warning that local programs cannot simply substitute for statewide coverage.
The NYC Council Preliminary Budget for 2026 includes $7.8 million for asylum legal services tied to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and advocates noted that amount is up $3.4 million from FY2025 due to demand.
The New York City Bar Association has also requested $100 million total for the Office for New Americans in 2026, including $80 million to sustain grants, $10 million for deportation defense and $10 million for capacity, adding pressure on officials to show how city and state plans will align.
Despite the public rallying and the competing numbers, the $175 million remains a legislative proposal in the One House Budgets, with final decisions resting on negotiations that must conclude before FY2027 starts April 1, 2026.
Advocates say the outcome will shape whether providers can expand capacity, stabilize staffing and extend services across regions as court delays mount and enforcement actions ripple through communities. “New York needs to fight back by fully funding immigration legal services, establishing a right to counsel, and bolstering workforce development throughout immigration court,” Liu said.
