Most of us who work on state budgets are familiar with the adage, “Budgets are a reflection of our values.” In New York State, the governor and legislature share their priorities for the state with its residents every fiscal year, which begins on April 1.
When it comes to immigration policy, New York’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget prioritizes putting state guardrails around federal immigration enforcement in the state. The budget included measures on protecting constitutional rights, preparing the state for an accurate count in the 2030 census, and keeping local law enforcement focused on local crimes rather than supporting Trump’s cruel deportation agenda. Some of the wins included:
- A ban on formal agreements under which local law enforcement officers may engage in or assist federal immigration enforcement
- A ban on the use of local jails for immigration detention
- The establishment of the Office of the Immigrant Trust to solicit complaints and monitor enforcement of these new policies
- The prohibition of state and municipal employees from participating in civil immigration enforcement, inquiring about immigration status, or sharing information unless required to by the law
- Making sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, places of worship, and community spaces safer by limiting immigration enforcement access to private areas
- The establishment of the right for New Yorkers to sue federal agents who violate their constitutional rights
- Establishing that all children have the right to public education, regardless of immigration status
- A ban on federal immigration agents from concealing their identities through the use of masks or face covers
- A mandate that childcare providers develop written procedures in the event that parents or guardians are detained by federal immigration authorities
And, to make sure New York State is ready to get a full count in the 2030 Census, $3 million to the NYS Department of Labor to create a Census 2030 Complete Count Commission, a smart early investment.
This list is just the start and there is room to go further. In January 2027, the NYS budget cycle will begin anew and immigration advocates in New York, together with IRI, will continue to push for even more policies that protect immigrant rights and allow all New Yorkers to have the ability to learn and earn with dignity.
Read what our partners at the New York Immigration Coalition think about the budget here: