The Vera Institute of Justice applauds New York State for its continued investment in immigration legal services in the FY22 budget, including the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project. Kica Matos, Vice President of Initiatives, issued the following statement:

"Immigrants are still facing detention and at risk of deportation and permanent separation from their families as a result of years of anti-immigrant federal policies. New York's continued support for this critical work is a powerful example to the nation of the promise of investing in immigrant communities. We look forward to working with New York's elected leaders to build upon this state's historic leadership in standing with immigrants, increasing support for the strength and stability of immigrant communities in the future, and investing in a sustainable and equitable recovery for all New Yorkers."

About the Vera Institute of Justice:

The Vera Institute of Justice is a justice reform change agent. Vera produces ideas, analysis, and research that inspire change in the systems people rely upon for safety and justice. Vera collaborates with the communities most impacted by these systems and works in close partnership with government and civic leaders to implement change. Across projects, Vera is committed to explicitly and effectively reducing the burdens of the justice system on people of color and frames all work with an understanding of our country’s history of racial oppression. Vera is currently pursuing core priorities of ending the misuse of jails, transforming conditions of confinement, providing legal services for immigrants, and ensuring that justice systems more effectively serve America’s increasingly diverse communities. Vera has offices in Brooklyn, NY; Washington, DC; New Orleans, and Los Angeles.