For Immediate Release

January 8, 2025

ALBANY—Hundreds of New Yorkers from across the state marched to the Capitol on the opening day of the legislative session today to urge the state legislature and the governor to take immediate action for immigrant communities by passing vital legislation that will protect all New Yorkers.

State legislators joined community members, families, immigrant and legal activists, and unions to call for urgent passage of four bills pending in the legislature which would take critical steps to protect immigrant communities: the New York for All Act, Dignity Not Detention Act, Access to Representation Act, and Clemency Justice Act.

“I lived through the first Trump administration, and I witnessed how community members, neighbors, family, friends, and I were terrified to go to work, pick up our children from school, or even go to church, “ said Fabricio Astaiza, member of Make the Road New York. “We felt like there was a target on our backs and feared that one day we would leave our homes and not come back. Every New Yorker, regardless of immigration status, deserves to walk down the street without fear that ICE will detain them and separate them from their loved ones. New York State must prohibit all state and local agencies from cooperating with ICE. With Trump’s second inauguration fast approaching, our elected officials have the moral obligation to do the right thing to support and pass vital legislation that will protect immigrants like me and our families.”

In a matter of days, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to enact his promised plan of mass deportation and aggressive unprecedented immigration enforcement, which will separate New York families, destabilize our communities, and devastate the state’s economy.

The legislature and governor must ensure New Yorkers are protected against Trump’s mass deportation agenda by passing the following four bills and signing them into law this session:

• New York for All Act: Protects immigrants from being funneled to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by prohibiting all state and local agencies from cooperating with ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or participating in their cruelty.

• Dignity Not Detention Act: Ends ICE’s contracts with local jails, ensuring that NY is not profiting off of ICE detention, and not adding to ICE’s detention capacity.
  
  

• Access to Representation Act: Creates a right to counsel in New York State immigration courts for immigrants at risk of deportation and ensures funding for sustainable, high-quality immigration legal services.
  
  

• Clemency Justice Act: Creates a fair, transparent, and accessible clemency application process in New York State, which is critical to protect New Yorkers facing exile due to the double punishment of the criminal and immigration legal systems.

“President-elect Trump is pushing an agenda of anti-immigrant policies that will put millions of New Yorkers at risk of mass deportation, detention, and family separation—threatening to devastate communities and decimate our economy. New York needs to take bold action and not back down. State leaders must support our communities by investing $165 million in immigration legal services. They must also advance critical policies like the Access to Representation Act and the BUILD Act to ensure providers can deliver legal representation, both in response to this urgent moment and in the long term. We also need to limit the harm and scope of anti-immigrant attacks by passing the New York for All, Dignity Not Detention, and Clemency Justice Acts. History is watching,” said Rosie Wang, program manager for the Vera Institute of Justice’s Universal Representation initiative.

The Gabinete members of Alianza Agricola said, "Governor Hochul, many of us, especially us undocumented migrant farmworkers, worry about being separated from our families and deportation. We are simply trying to build a better life and continue to provide food for the state of New York. With this new administration, that fear has only grown stronger, bringing more terror to our daily lives—ultimately affecting not just our well-being but the food chain system at large. We work hard to provide for our families, but the constant threat of deportation makes it hard to feel safe, even in our own communities. The NY4All bill is crucial for us because it will protect families like ours from the fear of being torn apart. We want to live and work with dignity, without worrying that a simple trip to the store or work could result in separation from our loved ones. We are essential members of this community, contributing to its growth and success. We deserve to be treated with respect and to live without the constant anxiety of deportation."

“This is a moment of urgency where we need action from our elected leaders, and today we implore them to stand on the right side of history,” said Linda Flor Brito, Senior Policy and Campaigns Organizer with the Immigrant Defense Project. “For years, ICE entanglement with state and local agencies has enabled the cruel separation of family members across New York State. The funneling of New Yorkers who serve state prison sentences into deportation proceedings is a cruel double punishment, which disproportionately impacts Black people and other people of color. We are looking to our legislators to take common sense action to stop our local and state agencies from doing ICE’s dirty work by passing New York for All, and to alleviate further harm to immigrant New Yorkers by bringing transparency and accountability to our clemency process with the Clemency Justice Act.”

“All people are created in the image of God and need to be treated as such. There is no biblical mandate greater than to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves which means we are called to extend the boldest possible welcome to strangers in our own land. The immigration system is not great and could do so much more to model welcome. Every indication is that the incoming administration is working overtime to make a broken immigration system even more inhospitable by making it as hard as possible for people to come here, remain here, and improve their lives while contributing fully to our economy. We must resist these changes to the immigration system which are rooted in mean spiritedness and a denial of constitutional rights. Passing these four bills can at least lessen the promised damage and begin creating a space for us to work together to truly transform our immigration system and make it more just and humane.” The Reverend Peter Cook, Executive Director, New York State Council of Churches.

"The governor and legislature are clinging to the myth that our legal system can neatly separate immigrants they consider deserving of protection from those who are not. That’s simply not true," said Rosa Cohen-Cruz, immigration policy director at The Bronx Defenders. "As public defenders, we’ve seen how easily any New Yorker without status, and certain lawful permanent residents, can be swept into detention and deportation, with devastating, life-altering consequences. If the governor and legislature are serious about protecting immigrant New Yorkers from Trump's mass deportation agenda, passing these four bills is the only path forward. Anything less will result in New York's complicity as the incoming administration sets out to terrorize our communities."

“Governor Hochul and the New York State legislature must take bold and immediate action to safeguard all New Yorkers and the future of every New York family, regardless of their immigration status. By passing the Access to Representation Act and the New York For All Act, the state can establish protections for immigrant communities, ensuring they can live, work, and thrive without the constant fear of separation from loved ones and the communities they call home. Immigrants are the backbone of our state, contributing to its cultural and economic vitality, especially in fields like healthcare, construction and farming. Enacting these bills will reinforce our commitment to the values that define New York and ensure the well-being of New York families, businesses, and communities. By advancing humane and compassionate common-sense solutions, New York can lead the nation and show the rest of the country what it means to be a truly welcoming place with a thriving economy,” said Murad Awawdeh, President & CEO, New York Immigration Coalition.

“Immigrants belong as members of our community and we must defend them as we would defend any other neighbor. Let’s make sure New York State stands for justice and welcome!” said Terry Diggory and Maxine Lindig Lautenberg, Co-Coordinators, Saratoga Immigration Coalition

“Mass detention and mass deportation are clear priorities of the incoming Trump administration. The governor and the legislature have the opportunity to put safeguards in place that offer some protections for immigrants in New York who are vulnerable to the criminal legal and detention systems,” said Rosa Santana, co-executive director of Envision Freedom Fund. “Real safety and security come from keeping families together, strengthening our communities, and protecting everyone's human rights. These bills are not just policy measures; they are lifelines for families. Albany must act now to protect immigrant New Yorkers and ensure our state does not contribute to the harm and separation caused by ICE and the federal government’s anti-immigrant agenda.”

“Trump has promised that his second administration will tear apart and destroy New York’s immigrant communities,” said Zach Ahmad, Senior Policy Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union. “With the inauguration just two weeks away, state lawmakers must pass New York for All now, keeping New York agents and officials from colluding with ICE and participating in its cruelty. All New Yorkers deserve to feel safe and protected in the face of a racist regime intent on demonizing our communities.”

“The time to act is now,” said Tania Mattos, Executive Director of UnLocal. “Governor Hochul must trust the immigrant community and advocates to propose meaningful solutions to protect undocumented individuals and their families from what we anticipate will be monumental efforts to dismantle our communities. Legislation like Dignity Not Detention is critical to halting harmful deportation tactics and ensuring dignity and safety for all.”

Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF, said, “We call on Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature to urgently pass these critical bills that will help protect our immigrant community from possible deportations and ensure that our state doesn't profit from the detention of our community in addition to improved legal services for those impacted by any deportations. These bills are essential to protecting immigrant communities and ensuring justice, dignity, and equality for all New Yorkers.”

Fanta Fofana, Director of the Clemency Coalition of New York, said, “New York’s elected officials have an opportunity right now to lead by example by protecting our immigrant communities from the threats of mass deportations made by President-elect Donald Trump. The solution is already right in front of them: pass the Dignity Not Detention Act, Clemency Justice Act, New York for All Act, and Access to Representation Act. We urgently call on our legislators and the governor to do what is right and prevent the tearing apart of thousands of families over the next few years by quickly passing and signing these bills into law.”

“You cannot be a true sanctuary city in a surveillance state," said Surveillance Technology Oversight Project Legal Director David Siffert. "Governor Hochul and the New York State legislature must act immediately to protect immigrant communities from the cruelty of the incoming Trump administration. New York’s vast surveillance network could easily expedite Trump’s plan for mass deportations, including in sanctuary cities. It has never been more urgent for Albany to pass New York For All to prohibit state and local agencies from colluding and sharing data with ICE."

“The Dignity Not Detention Act is an opportunity for the state legislature to protect New Yorkers from both the life-threatening abuses that plague the immigration detention system and the severe consequences of being funneled into the deportation pipeline,” said Gabriela Viera, senior advocacy manager at Detention Watch Network. “Research shows that available detention capacity increases the rate of ICE arrests locally, as the agency tears families and loved ones apart to fill beds. At a time when immigrant communities in New York are being directly threatened by the incoming Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations, a failure to act on these necessary measures will have dire consequences. We are counting on our elected officials to serve as a crucial line of defense and uphold New York's long history of being home to thriving immigrant communities by passing Dignity Not Detention as part of this essential platform for immigrant justice.”

"Just as state lawmakers took immediate action to protect immigrant New Yorkers during the COVID-19 pandemic, they must take all measures to safeguard immigrant New Yorkers from the next pandemic — Trump's promises of mass deportations. Our communities are living in fear, with dread that they will be separated from their families, from their homes, their jobs, and their lives. State lawmakers must not underestimate the threats the Trump administration is making to tear apart the safety and well-being of New Yorkers. Instead, they must take action to pass New York For All now, for the benefit of our state and its residents," said Mohamed Attia, Managing Director at the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center.

"New York has an opportunity: take a stand to protect immigrants from mass deportations and untold cruelty, or go along with Trump's dangerous, racist plan to tear apart families and communities,” said Brahvan Ranga, Political Director at For the Many. “Our leaders claim immigrants are welcome here, but nobody ever feels welcome with a target on their back. It's time for Governor Hochul and the State Legislature to live up to the promise of protecting all New Yorkers. Our elected officials must pass the New York for All Act and keep our state safe for all of us."

Joshua Epstein, Director of the Immigration Department at Queens Defenders, said, “Governor Hochul, New York State should ensure that we are a leader for justice for all noncitizen New Yorkers. Passing these four bills is critical to protect noncitizen New Yorkers and keep New York State as a symbol of fairness. As public defenders, we know how ICE abuses its contacts with the criminal systems, and ICE will indiscriminately detain and deport New Yorkers while destroying families. Without the protections guaranteed in these four bills, we know the horrors that the incoming presidential administration will unleash on New York communities. New York state must lead in providing safeguards for our most vulnerable community members. Let’s work together so New York State remains a beacon of hope and justice!”

Zoe Schonfeld, Supervising Attorney, Center for Family Representation, said, "New Yorkers all benefit when immigrants and their families are protected. Diverting important New York State and City resources towards enforcement of Trump's ill-conceived deportation priorities will harm New York's economy and society - and is a repudiation of the values that has made us the bustling, diverse and successful state and city we are. New York has long thrived due to a steady influx of new arrivals playing a vital role in making this state what we are today, we are a home to all and it is past time that we pass these bills to ensure that our newest neighbors can play a role in making our future as strong as the statue in New York Harbor that welcomed them."

“The New York State Jails Justice Network stands in firm opposition to all deportation and detention of immigrants. From a Black Liberation perspective, we understand that the systems of oppression targeting immigrants are deeply intertwined with the systemic racism and white supremacy that have long criminalized and exploited Black and Brown communities. We recognize that immigrant detention and deportation are extensions of a carceral system designed to control, dehumanize, and profit from marginalized populations.

As part of our commitment to liberation for all oppressed people, we pledge to oppose the use of our local county jails as detention facilities for immigrants. We reject any collaboration between our counties and ICE or any other federal agency engaged in tearing apart families, violating human rights, and perpetuating state violence.

Black liberation is rooted in solidarity and collective resistance. Just as we demand an end to mass incarceration and the criminalization of Black lives, we demand the abolition of systems that seek to cage and deport our immigrant neighbors, friends, and family members. We envision a world where all people, regardless of where they were born, are free to live with dignity, safety, and self-determination.

We call on our communities to stand united against these systems of oppression and to fight for a future that values human life over borders, profit, and punishment.”

“Immigrants in New York live every day with the weight of fear and uncertainty despite being the backbone of our state’s economy and culture. We urge Governor Hochul and the legislature to pass the New York For All Act and other critical protections to ensure that no one has to choose between contributing to their community and risking deportation. True safety and dignity come when families can live without fear, thrive in their work, and feel at home in the communities they sustain. New York must lead with justice, humanity, and an unwavering commitment to the rights of all its residents." Susie Ximenez, Executive Director with Adelante Student Voices.

“As the incoming administration promises the largest deportation campaign in the history of our country, we continue to build intersectional collective power to disrupt the current and future mass deportation machine. We refuse to stand by idle as families are separated, our communities are militarized and white supremacy runs rampant. From know your rights trainings to direct actions, we will continue to move toward collective liberation by any means necessary,” said Bryan MacCormack, Co-executive Director, Columbia County Sanctuary Movement.

“The Trump administration’s deportation agenda reinforces the criminalization of New York’s immigrant communities, including detaining individuals in jails with inhumane conditions while awaiting their hearings. For years, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI) has documented persistent violations in these detention centers that reveal patterns of medical neglect and abuse. Requests for better care and treatment are repeatedly ignored and denied. The reality is that there will never be adequate healthcare in these carceral settings. To protect and promote the health of immigrant New Yorkers and their families, our elected leaders must urgently pass New York For All, Dignity Not Detention and the other bills. Instead of policing and surveilling immigrants, community health and safety must start with investing in resources and accessible health services for all New Yorkers.” Noelle Peñas, Health Justice Community Organizer, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

“As public defenders, we have witnessed the cruel effects of ICE enforcement, which tears people from their families and wreaks havoc on communities,” said Ellen Pachnanda, Director of Brooklyn Defenders’ Immigration Practice. “State leaders must take action to stand up for immigrant New Yorkers by immediately enacting legislation like the New York for All Act and Dignity Not Detention Act.”

“We understand the role that state collaborations with ICE have in propelling the deportation machine” said Woods Ervin of Critical Resistance. “Everyday New Yorkers demand that decision makers in Albany provide comprehensive sanctuary protections to combat the Trump mass deportation agenda targeting the most vulnerable community members for political scapegoating. By passing legislation like Dignity Not Detention, NY has the opportunity to take a principled stance during a politically dangerous period.”

Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said: “As we approach a second Trump Administration we must stand ready to protect New York’s immigrant community from the attacks that the former president has already promised. Now is the time to make significant financial investments in immigrant legal representation, protect our immigrant communities from overreaches by Donald Trump’s Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and pass the Access to Representation Act (S.141), which I sponsor with Assemblymember Cruz, into law. The ARA will guarantee that all those in New York State facing legal challenges related to their immigration status have access to lawyers, which is not currently the case. Legal representation can quite literally determine if thousands of parents are separated from their children or not. By investing in immigrant legal services we can protect vulnerable communities, stop family separation and reform our broken immigration court system, before Donald Trump has the chance to damage it even further.”

“The truth is that separating families and sowing chaos in communities—as Trump has promised to do—does nothing to ensure public safety or fix our broken immigration system,” said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. “Local enforcement of immigration wastes resources, hurts our economy and erodes the police-community relationships that are so crucial to investigating crimes and responding to emergencies. That's why cities that have put a firewall between immigration enforcement and local police have lower crime rates than those that don't. My New York For All Act ensures immigrant New Yorkers are treated with dignity and respect, and that all our communities are safe, strong and united."

"Clemency is a vital tool for ensuring justice, but New York's procedures for clemency, pardons and reprieves are in desperate need of overhaul. We must give all New Yorkers a fair chance for a fresh start. I'm proud to sponsor the Clemency Justice Act." said Senator Zellnor Myrie.

Assemblymember Emily Gallagher said: “New York owes the richness of our culture, community, and economy to the contributions of immigrants who have made their homes here. We don’t have to imagine the lengths that the Trump administration will go to to demonize immigrants, tear apart families, and destabilize whole communities with senseless deportations and detentions — we’ve already lived through it. I am proud to co-sponsor each of these four pieces of critical legislation, and I will fight alongside my colleagues to pass them, so our immigrant community members have as much protection in New York State as possible from the cruel political persecution of this incoming administration.”

“I am the proud daughter of an immigrant and represent one of the most diverse and immigrant rich communities in the world in Queens. Immigrants are being wrongly targeted and unjustly isolated and we need New York to be a safe haven for millions seeking protections and economic opportunity. We cannot forget that our immigrant neighbors contribute billions in taxes and economic activity to our state and it is their migration to our state which is mitigating our population decline. That is critical if we are going to maintain political power in Congress. As the nation transitions back into the Trump regime, it is more important than ever to protect our most vulnerable New Yorkers. Let us keep families together by passing New York for All, Access to Representation, and other legislation to defend against mass deportations,” said Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas.

"As the daughter of Haitian immigrants and the chair of the Assembly Task Force on New Americans, I know firsthand how immigrant New Yorkers are the backbone of our neighborhoods, our workforce, and our culture. They are small business owners, frontline workers, caretakers, and community leaders. Yet, too often, they are treated as if their contributions don’t matter, facing unjust policies, exploitation, a lack of resources, and now deportation. Protecting immigrant New Yorkers isn’t just about fairness or decency—it’s about standing up for the values that make our state strong. When we ensure immigrants have access to housing, healthcare, education, and the dignity of full rights, we’re investing in a New York that works for everyone. We must act and pass these bills immediately. Our state’s future depends on it,” said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest.

"In these critical times, as we face renewed threats to the core of our communities, we stand firm in our commitment to justice and human dignity. I am steadfast in supporting crucial legislation such as the New York for All Act, Dignity Not Detention initiative, Access to Representation, and the Clemency Justice Act. These measures are vital for safeguarding individual rights and ensuring families are not torn apart by unjust policies. Fear and division will not dictate our future; our values and determination will. Together, we are working to ensure our state remains a place where everyone can live free from undue persecution. This is more than policy—it is a promise to our communities," said State Senator Robert Jackson.

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “We don't need a crystal ball to speculate on how the incoming Presidential administration stands to wreak havoc on our immigrant communities. From the Bronx to Buffalo, we saw what happened the last time — and now we’re prepared. The state of New York has always served as a beacon for our country’s most shining principles and the incoming Trump administration will never change that. As state legislators, we have the responsibility to protect our neighbors and take action as the firewall against what divisions they may sow. I remain committed to fighting for legislation that does just that.”

“Donald Trump has a long history of treating immigrants as political pawns,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. "For years, Republicans have spurned any efforts to reform our broken and bureaucratic immigration system, which has fostered the very situation we find ourselves in today. However, as January 20 looms ever closer, it is critical that we stand united against abhorrent and xenophobic threats to the many immigrants, asylum seekers and dreamers who call the Empire State home. Threatening to separate families is the antithesis of our New York values, and we, as a state, must fight tooth and nail against this cruel and inhumane policy in the halls of Albany in this legislative session."

“As we face the prospect of the largest deportation program in American history, the very principles, values, and laws of our state will be tested. Immigrants form the very fabric of our community—40% of New Yorkers are immigrants and nearly 700,000 New Yorkers across our state are undocumented. They are people we love and call our neighbors, working across industries, studying in school, and leading us in prayers in our houses of worship. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to pursue inhumane policies that would tear our communities apart. We cannot let that happen, and must protect and stand up for New York’s immigrant community. The clearest way for us to do that is by passing these bills,” said Assemblymember Zohran K. Mamdani.

“The incoming administration has vowed to destroy immigrant communities, separating families and dehumanizing people through a massive deportation campaign,” said Assemblymember Latrice Walker. The time has never been more critical for New York lawmakers to stand against the demonization of large swaths of people. I am a proud co-sponsor of the Access to Representation Act, which will guarantee that people fighting legal challenges over their legal status have access to a lawyer. I believe in due process. I’m also a co-sponsor of the New York For All Act, which prohibits state and local law enforcement from funneling people into ICE custody. I will urge my colleagues in government to fight for the dignity of immigrant communities through these bills and other legislation.”

“We saw in the first Trump administration the detention and deportation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, many who had established their lives in the United States and had been in this country for years, even legally going through the immigration process. These are people who built their lives and sought opportunities here, much like my family when we came to the U.S. when I was young. Many others are now doing the same, looking to become residents, important contributors to the economy, and Americans. And yet, immigrants are constantly vilified and scapegoated. New York State must pass measures that will protect immigrant communities and families – funding to enhance the legal pathways to a life here and passing New York for All to prevent collusion between local agencies and federal immigration authorities so that some of New York’s most vulnerable residents can safely engage in life in New York. These and several other measures are among the commitments we have in ensuring that a good and safe life in America, in New York, can be achieved by people who want to be a part of our community,” said Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos.

“New York City is a city of immigrants,” said Assemblymember Harvey Epstein. “ It is the diverse array of people, who bring with them their unique experiences, cultures, and traditions, that make our city so great. My family immigrated here and our newest New Yorkers deserve the same opportunities to build a life here. As the incoming administration threatens the detention and deportation of immigrants, New York must stand prepared to protect immigrant communities. I am proud to co-sponsor the Dignity Not Detention Act, the NY for All Act, the Access to Representation Act, and the Clemency Justice Act”.

"The incoming administration poses such draconian threats to immigrant communities that we can't wait to enact protective measures at the state level. The Justice Roadmap Platform includes just such a package of bills, and they're ready for passage. I'm proud to stand in staunch support of all four pieces of legislation, particularly Dignity Not Detention, which I carry in the Senate. Dignity Not Detention would prohibit New York prisons and jails from contracting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would help forestall the unconscionable deportations that Donald Trump made a centerpiece of his electoral campaign. Let's pass DND, New York for All, Access to Representation, and the Clemency Justice Act—and prevent the irreversible damage that mass deportations would do to our city, our state, and our country as a whole," said State Senator Julia Salazar.

“As New Yorkers brace for the next iteration of the Trump Administration, we know that the president will follow through on his promise to demonize and target undocumented community members,” said Assemblymember Karines Reyes, R.N., Chair of the NYS Assembly & Senate’s Puerto Rican / Hispanic Task Force. “Our state must ensure that we develop and implement policies that will keep communities together. That’s why I am proud to be the Assembly sponsor of both the New York for All Act and the Dignity Not Detentions Act, which would ensure that local resources are spent on local needs and concerns, not serving the duplicative function of enforcing federal immigration law. I hope that Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the NYS Legislature will pass the legislative package presented here today, because we must keep communities safe, thriving and together.”

“Immigrants are community leaders who help organize community events and food drives, they are the home health care workers who ensure our seniors are able to age with dignity, and they are the local educators who dedicate themselves to the children of New York. Their contributions keep New York State running. Despite this, they often end up as targets for the hateful, racist rhetoric that seems to fuel the incoming administration. Our communities need action from ALL elected officials, including our Governor, to protect our communities regardless of their immigration status and ensure they can continue to be full participants in our state without fear of retaliation. This starts by passing and implementing the New York for All Act, Dignity Not Detention Act, Access to Representation Act, and the Clemency Justice Act. It’s time for New York and Governor Hochul to pass these critical pieces of legislation into law,” said Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes.

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, "Our immigrant neighbors deserve to live with dignity and without fear of being torn away from their families. We must pass this critical package of bills to protect immigrants from Trump's inhumane and ill-conceived mass deportation proposal. These measures will reaffirm New York’s commitment to fairness and our shared humanity, while recognizing that immigrants are vital to our economy and our communities."

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