Mamdani Proposes $165M Boost for NYC Illegal Immigrant Legal Defense
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has proposed a significant increase in funding for legal defense of illegal immigrants. The plan, which estimates that 400,000 residents are at risk of deportation, has sparked debate among Democratic lawmakers.
Mamdani's plan includes boosting funding for the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative (RRLC) from $500,000 to $25 million, and increasing support for the New York Immigrant Family Unit Program from $16 million to $30 million. His platform calls for a total investment of $165 million in funding for immigration legal defense services, a $100 million increase from current levels.
The candidate also proposes hiring 200 lawyers for NYC's legal department to return it to pre-pandemic staffing levels. However, some lawmakers have criticized the plan, arguing that the funding should be directed towards other needs such as senior care, education, sanitation, and public safety. Council Member Robert Holden, a Democrat from Queens, opposes the plan, stating that it rewards lawbreaking and neglects other important areas.
Mamdani's plan, if implemented, would significantly increase legal defense funding for illegal immigrants in New York City. The proposal aims to protect a large number of residents at risk of deportation. However, it has sparked controversy among lawmakers, who question the allocation of funds in the face of other pressing city needs.
