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On May 28, 2026, New York State finalized its budget, heralding important policies that advocate for local immigrant families. However, these measures alone are not enough.
Immigrant Protections Passed in the NY State Budget
CRC supports the official policies passed in the state budget which provides immigrant families with greater security.
These protections include:
- A policy requiring officers to unmask themselves while carrying out their duties. Accountability and transparency in law enforcement are essential to protecting communities from abuse of power and violations of constitutional rights. Requiring clear identification helps build trust and ensures that all New Yorkers are treated with dignity and fairness.
- The ban on 287(g) agreements, which are partnerships between NY law enforcement units and ICE.
- Restrictions preventing ICE from entering sensitive locations without a judicial warrant, which requires a signature from a judge and reasserts due process for immigrants. Sensitive locations are defined as places such as schools, healthcare facilities, polling places, and homes.
- A ban on state employees using NY government resources to provide information to ICE officers. While this ensures that the data of immigrant New Yorkers are broadly protected, police officers are exempt from this ban.
- Allowing civil suits to be filed against ICE agents if New Yorkers believe their constitutional rights were infringed upon.
NY4ALL Act
CRC recognizes Governor Hochul’s historic steps to attempt to protect the immigrant community, but informal collaboration still poses a risk to our community. These are all important developments that provide New Yorkers with greater security and the ability to move through daily life with less fear.
CRC strongly supports the NY4ALL Act, a legislation that would establish stronger and more permanent protections for immigrant New Yorkers by distinguishing clear boundaries between state and local level agencies versus federal immigration enforcement. The ban on 287(g) agreements only protects against formal partnerships between federal immigration agents and local law enforcement, but fails to acknowledge the impact of informal teamwork which can also lead to detentions and deportations. Families simply trying to pay their bills and participate in community live should not live in constant fear of separation and detention.
Living Wage for All Act
Westchester County residents continue to face rising costs for childcare, housing, utilities, food, and other daily necessities. CRC supports continued investments in the Universal School Lunch Program, the Empire State Child Credit, Universal Pre-K, and housing initiatives that help families meet their basic needs and develop long-term stability. These programs are critical for many of the families that CRC serves.
At the same time, more must be done to address the growing economic strain on working families. While the proposal to eliminate New York State income tax on tipped wages may offer temporary relief to some workers, it does not address the broader affordability crisis facing communities across the state. CRC supports the Living Wage for All Act, which would establish a $30 dollar minimum wage for large companies by 2030 and small employers by 2035. Every New Yorker deserves the opportunity to earn a wage that truly reflects the cost of living and allows families to live with dignity, stability, and economic security.
These policies represent important steps toward building safer, healthier, and more equitable communities across Westchester County and New York State. The decisions made in Albany directly impact the lives of CRC clients, from whether families can afford food and housing to whether children can safely attend school.
CRC remains committed to advocating for policies that uphold the dignity of every New Yorker.
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