By Nelson A. King
NEW YORK, Aug 14, CMC – New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Attorney General Letitia James have stood together against what they described as the Trump administration’s “aggressive” immigration enforcement, reminding Caribbean and other immigrants of their rights and protections.
In addition, Hochul announced US$7.25 million in new funding to provide legal services for about 1,400 unaccompanied Caribbean and other immigrant children and youth in New York who are facing deportation, including more than 250 children already under detention.
The governor said the funding will help vulnerable children access legal representation following the Trump administration’s July 31 contract expiration.
“No child in our state should ever face the fear and uncertainty of the immigration process without advocates and legal support in their corner. While the Trump administration is walking away from these children, New York is stepping up to help bridge the gap and ensure their continued access to the services they need and deserve.
“When we lose sight of our shared responsibility to protect children, we lose sight of who we are as a country, and as governor, I will not let that happen,” she vowed.
Hochul said that, for nearly two decades, the federal government has been required by law to protect immigrant children, and that both Democrat and Republican administrations have complied with that law.
“The Trump administration’s lack of clarity surrounding replacement contracts creates instability for thousands of children in New York and across the country and, ultimately, will harm vulnerable children who rely on these services,” the governor warned.
In response, she said the New York State Office for New Americans (ONA) is executing contracts totaling US$7.25 million with a coalition of legal services providers, led by the Hispanic Federation, to support children previously served under the federal programme.
James vowed that “New York will never stand by while vulnerable children are left to navigate our immigration system alone.
“We will continue fighting to protect immigrant New Yorkers and push back against federal overreach that puts families and communities at risk. Every New Yorker deserves a fair day in court and access to justice, and I thank Governor Hochul for taking the initiative to fund these critical legal services.”
Mamdani said New York refuses to stand idly by while the federal government abandons immigrant children and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation and deportation.
“I’m proud to stand alongside state and city leaders as we reject the cruelty on display and recommit to protecting the immigrant communities that help form this city’s backbone,” he said.
The mayor said New York City has invested a record US$153 million in legal representation for immigrants, expanded Know Your Rights outreach in dozens of languages, and strengthened the firewall between city agencies and federal immigration enforcement.
“We will not stop until the values our city was built upon are truly felt across the five boroughs. We are together today to speak out against a grave injustice: the federal government’s refusal to renew its contract with the Acacia Center for Justice and nearly 100 more legal services providers after withholding more than US$65 million in payment.
“As a de facto consequence of this decision, more than 25,000 unaccompanied immigrant children have had their legal representation abruptly ended, leaving them to navigate a broken immigration system alone,” the mayor added.
New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said the funding is a testament to the fact that, here in New York, “we will not stand idly by while immigrant communities across our state and country are targeted by the cruel actions and volatile rhetoric coming out of Washington.
“We will not compromise on our core values of justice, dignity and equality, and we have a responsibility to ensure that every person, regardless of immigration status, can live without fear, access essential services, and be a part of the communities that they call home,” she said.
“I am proud to have secured this funding working alongside Governor Hochul, Mayor Mamdani and Attorney General James, as we continue to protect immigrant families and make clear that New York will remain a safe haven for our immigrant neighbours.”
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, whose grandfather hailed from the Bahamas, said, “immigrant communities are under siege by a federal government that has lost sight of the very fabric of our nation.
“Here in New York, we will continue to fight back, and today’s announcement of US$7.25 million for the legal services of unaccompanied minors illustrates just this,” he said, while New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin said the Trump administration’s decision to strip legal representation from unaccompanied children facing immigration proceedings abandons some of the most vulnerable young people imaginable at the moment they need help most.
“No child should ever have to stand alone in an immigration courtroom simply because they cannot afford a lawyer or because the federal government walked away from its responsibility,” she said thanking Governor Hochul for stepping in to ensure these children are not forced to navigate our legal system alone.
New York Immigration Coalition President and chief executive officer, Murad Awawdeh said, New York families belong together.
“ No one should have to live in fear that simply stepping outside their home, going to work, or taking their children to school could result in their family being torn apart.
“In recent weeks, we have seen a disturbing increase in ICE enforcement in immigrant communities across New York City. But our communities will not be intimidated or divided,” he added.
CMC/nk/ir/2026