Committee on Immigration meeting
April 20, 2026, 10:00 AM
Jointly with the Committee on Housing and Buildings
The Committee on Immigration held a joint hearing with the Housing and Buildings Committee on tenant harassment targeting immigrant New Yorkers and on the city's certification of no harassment process, along with a hearing on Int 0839, a bill to make that certification more accessible to tenants. No votes were taken.
What was discussed
- Opening Statements — Joint Oversight Hearing on Tenant Harassment Against Immigrants and the CONH Program Chairperson Sanchez (Housing and Buildings) and Chairperson Encarnacion (Immigration) opened the April 20 joint hearing, which examined the Certification of No Harassment (CONH) program and how it protects immigrant tenants from displacement harassment. HPD's Deputy Commissioner Santiago and MOIA
- HPD Deputy Commissioner Santiago on the Certification of No Harassment Program Deputy Commissioner AnnMarie Santiago described the CONH pilot program, which places approximately 1,500 buildings on a list and requires landlords to certify they have not harassed tenants before receiving permits for significant work. Santiago explained that the pilot is designed as a deterrent
- How effective is the CONH program in protecting immigrant tenants from displacement harassment? Chairperson Sanchez asked whether the CONH program is an effective deterrent for tenant harassment, including whether it addresses buildings where conditions are used to push tenants out. Santiago confirmed the program is after-the-fact (triggered by a permit application) and does not enable
- How does the CONH complaint process work for immigrant tenants, and in how many languages is it available? Chairperson Encarnacion asked how immigrant tenants can file harassment complaints through HPD and whether the process is accessible in their languages. Santiago described the 311 system with Language Line support for 100+ languages, and explained that tenants need only provide their name, apartment
- What is HPD's protocol when an inspector encounters ICE at a building being inspected? Chairperson Sanchez asked about HPD's protocol when inspectors encounter ICE at a property. Santiago said this had not happened at the time of the hearing but confirmed that inspectors are instructed to report unusual situations to their supervisors, and that coordination between HPD and MOIA on
- Housing Advocates and Attorneys on CONH Gaps and Int 0839 A panel of housing attorneys including Divya Korada (Urban Justice Center), Ibrahim Ramoul (Make the Road), Katie Anderson, Sebastian Perez (Legal Aid Society), and Peter Estes testified in support of Int 0839, which would expand and codify the CONH program. They described cases where tenants lost
- Immigrant Tenants and Advocates on Housing Harassment and Shelter Conditions Multiple immigrant tenants and community advocates testified about their experiences with housing harassment and unsafe shelter conditions. Several witnesses from West African communities — including Cheikh Diaw, Gora Ndiaye, Amadou Ly, and Papamama Thieng — testified in Wolof and French with live
- Research and Public Health Perspective on Immigrant Tenant Vulnerability Dr. Tabitha Julien, a public health researcher, testified about the health consequences of housing instability and harassment for immigrant populations in New York City, calling for greater investment in protective programs like CONH and stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Agenda
2 items
- T2026-1582 Oversight - Tenant Harassment against Immigrants and the Certification of No Harassment Program. Hearing Held by Committee
- Int 0839-2026 A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to making the certification of no harassment pilot program permanent and adding criteria for inclusion of certain buildings in the program Hearing Held by Committee