NEW YORK, CMC – Immigration advocates in New York on Wednesday strongly condemned the State Assembly’s failure to pass legislation critical for the well-being of Caribbean and other immigrants.
The advocates said the New York State Legislative session ended on Wednesday with the Assembly’s extended session without passage of “four critical bills that would have advanced rights and protections” for Caribbean and other immigrants in New York.
The Coverage for All Act (S2237A Rivera/A3020A Gonzalez-Rojas) and the Language Access Expansion Act (S3383-A Kennedy/ A7235 De Los Santos) had both passed the Senate but failed to make it through the Assembly.
The Access to Representation Act (S81B Hoylman-Sigal/A1961A Cruz) was funded in the budget but did not make it for a vote in either House, and there was no movement in either House on the New York For All Act (S987 Gounardes/A5686 Reyes).
“This year, Albany lacked the political courage to do what is right not only for immigrant New Yorkers but all New Yorkers,” Murad Awawdeh, executive director of New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), referring to New York State capital, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
NYIC is an umbrella policy and advocacy organization representing over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, serving one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States.
“Our labor continues to be a crucial part of New York’s economic engine, and when our families are struggling, so is New York,” Awawdeh said. “It’s deeply disappointing that Albany failed immigrant New Yorkers in their time of need when xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant sentiment are rising across the state.
“Passage of commonsense legislation that would have kept our families together, protected the health of New York’s workforce, ensured equity in our legal system by allowing access to pro-bono attorneys in immigration court and expanded equal access to government information and resources all stalled,” he added.
“We expect more from our lawmakers and will be back next legislative session to ensure that every New York family, no matter their immigration status, can live safely and thrive,” Awawdeh warned.
The Coverage for All Coalition Campaign also strongly condemned New York State Assembly leaders for failing to expand health coverage for all low-income Caribbean and other immigrants in New York.
“It is deeply shameful that Speaker (Carl) Heastie and his leadership colleagues refused to lead on this issue and instead gave in to Governor (Kathy) Hochul’s anti-immigrant exaggerations about the Coverage for All bill,” said the Coalition in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed that the Assembly failed to hold a floor debate and vote on life-saving legislation that would have expanded health care coverage to low-income New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status.
“Instead of caving to the lies and the vague suggestion of a veto threat from Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie and his colleagues should have moved forward to pass the bill and urge the governor to sign it,” it added. “Every day, undocumented New Yorkers without health insurance are forced to forgo the necessary health care and continue to suffer in silence. Speaker Heastie and the Assembly’s inaction will continue to put the health and lives of these New Yorkers at risk.”
The Coverage for All Coalition Campaign claimed that, in recent days, Gov. Hochul has made “a series of false comments regarding Coverage for All costs, despite the federal government confirming that New York State can amend its application for the Section 1332 federal waiver to expand health coverage to New Yorkers with income up to 250 percent of the national poverty level, regardless of their immigration status — ensuring that this legislation would have no cost to the state, and instead create substantial savings and economic benefits.
“Despite this bill being a moral, fiscal, and economic no-brainer, Governor Hochul continued to stand in the way and block this commonsense measure to expand health coverage, and Assembly leaders declined to challenge her,” the Coalition said. “The last several years have shown more clearly than ever the critical need for people to access affordable and quality health care. Yet, Speaker Heastie and Governor Hochul failed to seize the moment and refused to build a healthier future for all New Yorkers.”
However, the Coverage for All Coalition Campaign applauded the State Senate leadership for passing the Coverage for All bill before they adjourned.
“We are grateful for lead bill sponsors Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who tirelessly fought for the health of our communities.,” it said. “Immigrant New Yorkers and allies will continue to fight to ensure we all have access to the health coverage we deserve.”
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