Committee on Immigration meeting
May 28, 2026, 2:00 PM
Jointly with the Committee on Finance
The Committee on Immigration held an FY2027 executive budget hearing on the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, jointly with the Committee on Finance. The committee took testimony and recorded no votes.
What was discussed
- Swearing in the MOIA panel For the day's third hearing — the Committee on Finance jointly with the Committee on Immigration — Committee Counsel swore in Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Faiza Ali and her deputies.
- Commissioner Ali's testimony on the MOIA FY2027 executive budget Faiza Ali, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs and a former Council staffer, testified on MOIA's executive budget, emphasizing legal services, the legal support hotline, language access, and support for immigrant New Yorkers amid federal immigration pressure.
- Should MOIA become a full city agency? Chair Linda Lee asked whether MOIA should be a standalone agency. Commissioner Faiza Ali said the question deserves nuance and pointed to MOIA's longstanding intra-agency task force that convenes all 46 city agencies to share information and coordinate immigrant services.
- Is there enough legal capacity for AAPI immigrant communities? Chair Linda Lee cited a Stop AAPI Hate analysis and asked about culturally responsive services. Commissioner Faiza Ali agreed additional culturally and linguistically responsive legal capacity would make a meaningful difference for AAPI communities and described sustained stakeholder engagement.
- How many legal-hotline callers actually reached legal help? Chair Linda Lee asked how many of the hotline's callers were connected to legal services. Deputy Commissioner Lorena Lucero said the hotline received 19,830 calls from July 2025 through mid-May 2026, does not collect personally identifying information, and directs callers to legal support centers
- How is MOIA funding deportation defense against federal clawbacks? Chair Elsie Encarnación asked about deportation-defense funding and federal clawback risk. Commissioner Faiza Ali said MOIA is directing $14.6 million to the Rapid Legal Collaborative and legal support centers for New Yorkers facing deportation, and that because the legal services are city-funded
- What did the audit reveal about unreported ICE interactions? Chair Elsie Encarnación asked about the Interagency Response Committee audit created under Executive Order 13. Commissioner Faiza Ali said the audit found many interactions between city agencies and federal immigration authorities were not reported — because agencies weren't tracking them
- How is MOIA's staffing spread across other agencies' budgets? Chair Elsie Encarnación probed MOIA's headcount. Deputy Commissioner Jasniya Sanchez said MOIA's lines are housed at agencies including the Mayor's Office, DCAS, DSS, and SBS on a baseline of about $781,962, and Commissioner Faiza Ali said staff work exclusively for MOIA even when their budget sits
- What are MOIA's program and RFP plans for FY27? Chair Elsie Encarnación asked about new procurements. Deputy Commissioner Jasniya Sanchez said MOIA is not issuing RFPs for new programs in FY27 and is instead extending contracts to avoid breaks in service, and Deputy Commissioner Lorena Lucero noted the legal support centers are in the first year
- Can MOIA help asylum seekers with immigration filing fees? Council Member Rita C. Joseph asked how asylum seekers can access help with fees due in 2026. Deputy Commissioner Lorena Lucero said last year's budget partnership allocated funding for filing fees, and offered to connect council offices directly with MOIA's legal service providers.
- Are English-language learning supports being cut? Council Member Gale A. Brewer asked about English-language programs. Deputy Commissioner Lorena Lucero said MOIA's English Language and Learning Support Centers had funding extended and baselined, and Commissioner Faiza Ali framed English learning as a pathway to civic participation and economic
- How is MOIA improving Local Law 30 language-access compliance? Chair Elsie Encarnación pressed on language-access gaps between agencies. Commissioner Faiza Ali said she and Deputy Mayor Julie Su issued a memo to Local Law 30 agencies reiterating requirements, and Deputy Commissioner Lorena Lucero said hotline materials are being translated into additional
- How is MOIA preparing for the 2030 census? Chair Linda Lee asked about census readiness. Commissioner Faiza Ali said an accurate count of immigrant New Yorkers requires long-term, sustained investment, while noting the previous cycle's planning predated her tenure.
- Closing exchange on the NYC Neighborhood Passport To close, Chair Linda Lee invited a lighter question and Commissioner Faiza Ali described the citywide NYC Neighborhood Passport program, launching June 11, encouraging New Yorkers to explore immigrant-owned businesses across the five boroughs.
Agenda
1 item
- T2026-1884 NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL FISCAL YEAR 2027 EXECUTIVE BUDGET HEARINGS 2:00 p.m. Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs Jointly with the Committee on Finance Hearing Held by Committee