Governor Andrew Cuomo today launched the
nation’s first public-private immigrant legal defense initiative called the
Liberty Defense Project in response to the surge in demand for help that is
overwhelming nonprofit organizations serving immigrants. The partnership will
be supported by more than $1 million in funding to provide legal assistance and
representation to immigrants in New York State, regardless of their residency
status, through a network of pro bono attorneys, law students and legal
professionals.
The initiative is a public-private partnership between the New York Department
of State, two dedicated philanthropic allies—the Carnegie Corporation of New
York and the Ford Foundation— and a statewide coalition of 182 advocacy
organizations and legal entities. Private sector law firms, legal departments
at universities, bar associations and advocacy organizations, will be
coordinated by the State’s Office for New Americans to provide pro bono legal
and additional resources for immigrants threatened by recent changes in
immigration policies.
“New York is a beacon of hope and opportunity for all, and immigrants have
always been part of the fabric of this great state,” Governor Cuomo said. “During these stormy times, it’s
critical all New Yorkers have access to their full rights under the law. The
first-of-its-kind Liberty Defense Project will provide legal support to protect
immigrants and ensure this state is living up to the values embodied by the
Lady in our Harbor.”
Through a central repository managed by the Office for New Americans, the
Liberty Defense Project will:
Provide
legal assistance and representation to immigrants in New York State through a
network of pro bono attorneys, other legal professionals and law students.
Assist
immigrants in deportation proceedings.
Assist
in completing and filing applications for lawful permanent residence (also
known as a green card), or temporary status, as well as work permits.
Provide outreach and educational help to
assist parents who are potentially at risk of deportation to fill appropriate
forms and prepare emergency plans for the care of their children in case they
are detained or deported. This will enhance the work already being done
at centers run by the State Office for New Americans throughout New York.
The Carnegie Corporation and the Ford Foundation have committed significant
financial resources to this effort. The Carnegie Corporation has long committed
to fostering a pluralistic democracy through civic integration of immigrants
and the Ford Foundation’s lengthy commitment to the inherent dignity of all
people aligns with the Governor’s dedication to making New York State a fair
and safe place for all its residents.
In recognition of the scarcity of immigration attorneys in areas outside New
York City, the Project will also partner with Equal Justice Works to place
approximately 20 new attorneys and over 100 law students in communities with
limited legal resources and high immigrant populations. These lawyers will work
full-time to aid immigrants in New York State to access legal advice while
adjusting their immigration status.
A statewide coalition of 182 advocacy organizations, 14 law schools, 21 law
firms and 14 bar associations will be coordinated by the State’s Office for New
Americans to provide pro bono legal services to immigrants. More than 200
experienced attorneys and paralegals will volunteer their time and work
together so that immigrants are better aware of their legal options and are
provided greater access to representation. During the upcoming months,
volunteer attorneys will also travel across the state to help immigrants
understand their rights, as part of the “know-your-rights” campaign being
conducted by the Office for New Americans.
The initiative will also rely on established state partners and immigrant
advocates, such as Catholic Charities, to help provide greater access to legal
services for immigrants threatened by recent changes in immigration policies.
They will help to organize the participation of volunteer attorneys and offer other
support and guidance to this critical initiative by coordinating the
participation of volunteer attorneys and offer other support and guidance to
this critical initiative.
Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said: “New
York’s immigrants are at the heart of our state's rich civic, and social
diversity. Legal representation dramatically improves outcomes for all New
Yorkers. The Liberty Defense Project will ensure that immigrants in need are
provided with counsel that will protect their rights. I want to thank Carnegie
Corporation and Ford Foundations for their support and commitment to this vital
and much-needed assistance.”
Darren Walker, president of the Ford
Foundation said, “We applaud the innovative step by Governor
Cuomo and the state of New York to establish the Liberty Defense Project. Over
the last five decades Ford’s work on immigration has focused squarely on
protecting the dignity of vulnerable communities. The importance of the rule of
law to protect and defend the human rights of all who live in this country is a
key value underpinning our democracy since our founding and into the future.”
A full list of current partners of the Liberty Defense Project include:
Foundations
1.
Carnegie Corporation
2. Ford Foundation
21 Private Sector Firms/Legal Departments, including the following 10:
1.
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
2. Cooley LLP
3. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
4. Greenberg Traurig LLP
5. Morrison & Foerster LLP
6. Nixon Peabody LLP
7. Ropes & Gray LLP
8. Shearman & Sterling LLP
9. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
10. Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Bar/Legal Associations
1.
American Immigration Lawyers Association
2. Asian American Bar Association of New York
3. Association of Black Women Attorneys
4. The Dominican Bar Association
5. Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) – New York Regional Chapter
6. Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
7. The LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL)
8. Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County
9. Long Island Hispanic Bar Association
10. Metropolitan Black Bar Association
11. New York City Bar Association
12. New York State Bar Association
13. Puerto Rican Bar Association
14. South Asian Bar Association of New York
Law Schools
1.
Albany Law School
2. Brooklyn Law School
3. Columbia Law School
4. Cornell Law School
5. CUNY School of Law
6. Fordham University School of Law
7. School of Law at Hofstra University
8. New York Law School
9. Pace Law School
10. St. John’s University School of Law
11. Syracuse University College of Law
12. Touro College Touro Law Center
13. University at Buffalo School of Law
Advocacy Organizations
1.
27 New York State Office for New American Opportunity Centers
2. Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation
3. Immigrant Justice Corps
4. New York Immigration Coalition (150 members)
5. Probono.net
6. Safe Passage
The Department of State will begin implementation of the Liberty Defense
Project by conducting training and outreach events designed to prepare pro bono
attorneys for their work with immigrants:
1. April
10, 2017 – Training on Securing T Visas
2. April 12, 2017 – Family Safety Planning: Protecting Undocumented Children
3. April 13, 2017 – Survey of Immigration Law
4. May 18, 2017 – Legal consequences of criminal records for immigrants
5. May 24, 2017 – Family Based Immigration Law
6. June 19, 2017 – Deportation Defense
7. August 17, 2017 – Preventing Immigration Legal Services Fraud
8. September 15, 2017 - Survey of Immigration Law
9. October 12, 2017 – Advanced Issues in Immigration Court
10. November , 2017 - Two day Immigration Court Training
11. November 12, 2017 – Immigration Appeals
Source: Press
Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo