New York For All and other bills will safeguard communities

Rochester, NY – Today, Advocates from the New York Immigration Coalition, Metro Justice, Worker Justice Center of NY, Western NY Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies and Refugees Helping Refugees took a stand against the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on immigrants by joining together and calling on the passage of the New York for All Act (NY4All). The New York for All Act (S2235/A3506) would uphold due process, prevent New York’s resources from being used to carry out unlawful federal immigration enforcement, and strengthen public safety for all New Yorkers.

The vigil comes at a crucial moment, as New York State leaders consider essential investments in legal services and public safety as part of state budget negotiations. Advocates called on Governor Hochul and lawmakers to take action and pass NY4All as part of this year’s budget and legislative session.

Said Cassandra Bocanegra, Sr. Manager of Organizing and Strategy, FLX, New York Immigration Coalition: “The Trump administration’s relentless anti-immigrant agenda has put millions at risk of mass deportation, permanent family separation, and indefinite detention. These attacks destabilize communities, weaken local economies, and make everyone less safe. Targeting and disappearing a student activist because of his political activities is a glaring example of the type of actions that will go unchecked if Albany does not clearly stand up for immigrants by passing New York For All. Tom Homan’s recent trip to Albany also makes clear the lengths that the Trump administration will go to bully and threaten New York State to bend to the Trump administration’s will. The passage of NY4All would ensure that our local resources aren’t being used to further Trump's cruel and un-American agenda, at the expense of New York’s own public safety needs.” 

Laila Khalid of University of Rochester Students for Justice in Palestine: “This is a make or break moment for the First Amendment and our most basic rights to freedom of expression. The Trump administration’s abduction of Mahmoud Khalil is blatantly unconstitutional and straight out of a well-worn authoritarian playbook. We call on local officials to condemn the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, and to take material steps to defend our community from ICE and DHS. And we call on University administrators in Rochester to ensure the protection of all students regardless of citizenship status, and to refuse coordination with ICE and DHS.” 

Luis Torres, Vice President of Metro Justice: “It’s necessary for our communities and elected officials to realize that the Trump administration’s racist crackdown on immigrants of all stripes, and now political dissenters more broadly, is an existential threat to our communities. We’re dismayed by Morelle’s vote for Laken Riley, and the County Legislature’s vote to further collaborate with border patrol under the Trump administration. We need our leaders to stand up and take a firm stance and condemn the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, pass NY For All in the budget, stop collaboration with ICE, DHS, CBP, and this fascist regime, and actually do all they can to defend our community.”  

Irene Sanchez, Executive Director, WNY Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies, Inc.: "We oppose CBP’s increased policing of our communities and reject the administration’s attempts to instill fear in Black and Brown families through racial profiling and unjust immigration enforcement. Immigrants are not only welcome—they are essential to our communities, contributing billions in taxes and enriching our cultural and social fabric for future generations. We stand firmly against their tactics to spread fear, criminalize, and marginalize our neighbors.
Furthermore, we must protect farmworkers, who are the backbone of our agricultural economy, from being unfairly targeted and subjected to heightened enforcement. These workers, who labor tirelessly to feed our nation, deserve dignity, security, and protection from policies that threaten their livelihoods and families.”

Julie Dragonetti, Outreach Coordinator, Worker Justice Center of New York: “Every day at the Worker Justice Center we see rampant exploitation and abuse of immigrant workers, whether in agriculture, construction, hospitality, or other industries. No one should have to put up with undignified, unsafe, or abusive working conditions due to fear of retaliation, yet this is the reality that immigrant workers in our communities face every single day. This fear has only been intensified by the current administration’s continuous attacks on immigrants’ and workers’ rights. We must continue to oppose abusive policies and practices that put our immigrant neighbors’ lives and livelihoods at risk, and work toward the end goal of achieving justice for all workers, regardless of immigration status.” 

About the New York for All Act: 

The New York for All Act (NY4All) would ensure that state and local resources are not used to enforce the Trump administration’s extreme mass deportation agenda. In recent years, federal policies have increasingly pressured local agencies to act as immigration enforcers—undermining public trust, draining resources, and making communities less safe. By prohibiting state and local agencies from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with raids, deportations, or information-sharing, the bill ensures that public safety resources are directed where they belong: solving serious crimes, reducing gun violence, and responding to emergencies. At a time when law enforcement should be focused on keeping New Yorkers safe, collaborating with the Trump administration only makes it harder to build trust and protect all residents.

About New York Immigration Coalition: The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.