NYS legislators have a bill to fund $55M in legal services for immigrants

A pair of Albany Democrats from New York City want taxpayers to pick up as much as $300 million in legal fees to help illegal immigrants fight deportation – despite worries it could also help potentially “dangerous people” stay in the country.

“We have a moral obligation to make sure that new Americans have legal representation. Otherwise, the odds are without a lawyer they’ll be sent back to their country of origin and could face dire circumstances, including death,” state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) said of legislation he is sponsoring alongside Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz (D-Queens).

Legislators estimate the effort would cost $300 million once fully funded, with supporters pushing for a $55 million down payment next year.

But critics say the bill could hurt public safety and the state’s bottom line if enacted, especially as New York City is already grappling with an estimated $1 billion in costs tied to the flood of asylum-seeking migrants shipped here from the southern border since May.

“Many of the deportations that occur in New York State are because an undocumented individual commits an underlying crime unrelated to their immigration and is subsequently flagged by ICE,” state Sen. James Skoufis (D-Newburgh) told The Post.

“It is particularly concerning that this bill extends public funds to these situations that would potentially keep dangerous people in New York State,” he said.

The proposal would help any detained immigrant who meets certain requirements – no matter what criminal convictions triggered removal proceedings.

“With a financial crisis looming, and a mass exodus of New Yorkers for other states, the last thing we need is to foot the bill for a problem not of our doing,” New York City Councilman Bob Holden (R-Queens) said.

Federal immigration enforcement officials have highlighted in recent years how state and city sanctuary laws have blocked efforts to deport people whose rap sheets indicate a potential threat to public safety.

Other Democratic and Republican officials say spending millions on immigration lawyers will undermine efforts to get President Biden to take care of costs associated with the deluge of migrants sent to New York from places like Texas — by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the city of El Paso and the federal government itself.

New York City is currently grappling with getting federal help to cover more than $600 million in costs brought by thousands of migrants arriving in New York City to seek asylum.

“New York State and New York City are in a budget crisis. If the federal government wants to pay for it, then fine,” state Sen. Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) saidof the renewed push by Hoylman and Cruz.

Powerful advocacy groups are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to support the idea along with $100 million in funding via the state budget due April 1.

“Without access to legal representation, immigrants are far more likely to lose their legal cases, be ripped from their loved ones, and be deported back to countries where they’re where their lives and livelihoods may be in jeopardy,” Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, a key player in efforts to legalize drivers licenses for undocumented people, said at a Wednesday press conference in Manhattan.

“Everyone deserves an advocate at their side to help them understand their legal options and constitutional rights in a complex and daunting system,” Cruz said.

The newly-elected Gov. Kathy Hochul, who beat Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin by mere single digits, also showed a willingness Wednesday to pick up the legal costs by announcing $3 million for nonprofits helping newly-arrived migrants with their political asylum applications.

But the governor declined to take definitive stands on touchy issues while running for a full term in office and has typically refrained from commenting about bills before the Legislature.

A spokeswoman did not provide comment Wednesday about whether the governor will back the bill to provide legal help to the much larger group of illegal immigrants.

A Hochul spokeswoman did not provide immediate comment Wednesday amid criticism that the proposed bill could help convicted criminals stay in the U.S.

“We should reject the notion that some immigrants are more deserving than others. We are talking about parents, business owners and longstanding neighbors,” Cruz said of those in the U.S. illegally.

Colleagues on both sides of the aisle say they will nonetheless oppose the bill in the legislative session scheduled to begin next month.

“Democrats’ complete failure on border security and immigration shouldn’t result in a $300 million tax on New Yorkers. We’ve seen similar proposals in the past, and fortunately they haven’t gone anywhere,” said Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay (R-Pulaski).

With Hochul now developing her budget plans, Barclay said she has a chance to show a move away from far-left progressive positions on hot-button issues like immigration after a closer-than-expected race against Zeldin.

“Last year, New York City’s radical Democrats wanted non-citizens to vote in local elections. Now they expect the public to spend hundreds of millions to provide free deportation lawyers. Their political statements do not need to be contained in the state spending plan.”