Governor Hochul Highlights Immigration Legal Services Funding

On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul took some time to discuss the state’s budget allocation for immigration legal services, which has already been established for this year. This comes in the wake of the arrest of city director and mayor’s hopeful Brad Lander by ICE.

“(Immigrants) aren’t paying attention. They don’t have lawyers, so New York is providing $50 million for legal services for those affected,” Hochul stated.

However, it’s worth noting that the actual amount allocated in the state budget is $64.2 million, not the $50 million mentioned by the governor for immigrant legal assistance.

While Hochul seems to be celebrating these legal funds included in the new budget, Lander and his progressive allies are advocating for even higher funding amounts.

During a press conference last week, Lander was advocating for over $134 million in additional funding for immigrants’ legal services when he was taken into custody by federal agents at ICE headquarters while escorting immigrants from court hearings.

His arrest has sparked a wave of support from fellow progressives, who have urged Hochul to defend him, characterizing Lander’s detention as “Bulls–T.”

Hochul later accompanied Lander out of 26 Federal Plazas after he was released about four hours later when the charges were dropped.

Although Lander was arrested on suspicion of assaulting law enforcement, footage from the incident doesn’t seem to back up those allegations.

Hochul’s office confirmed that the funds mentioned during Tuesday’s press conference were already established and signed into law on May 9th, stating, “There are no new allocated amounts.”