Immigrant Rights Groups Rally for State Protections

New York for All Act would limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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As the Trump administration heightens deportations to Caribbean and other countries, immigration advocates and legislators in New York on Wednesday, Feb. 25, called for the immediate passage of the New York for All Act to protect Caribbean and other immigrants. The New York for All Coalition, comprising various groups, rallied at the New York State Capitol in Albany, urging passage of the legislation that would establish clear limits between state and local agencies and federal immigration enforcement, protecting access to essential services and ensuring immigrants can live and work without fear.

Why it matters

The proposed New York for All Act aims to address growing concerns about the collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, which has led to the separation of families and deportation of immigrants, disproportionately impacting Black and brown communities. The legislation seeks to preserve community trust and ensure public resources are used to serve all New Yorkers, not advance federal immigration crackdowns.

The details

The New York for All Act would prevent both formal and informal collusion with federal immigration authorities and prohibit the use of state and local resources and taxpayer dollars to advance federal immigration enforcement. This is in contrast to Gov. Kathy Hochul's 'Local Cops, Local Crimes Act,' which would only ban formal 287(g) agreements between local law enforcement and ICE, with protections expiring after three years.

  • On February 25, 2026, immigrant rights groups and legislators rallied at the New York State Capitol in Albany to call for the passage of the New York for All Act.

The players

Murad Awawdeh

Executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), one of the chief architects behind the New York for All Coalition.

Andrew Gounardes

State Senator representing District 26, who said the New York for All Act builds trust between communities and local government agencies.

Karines Reyes

Assembly Member representing District 87, who said the New York for All Act is needed to prevent ICE from using local resources to wrongfully place people into custody, separate families, and deport fellow New Yorkers.

Brian Cunningham

Assembly Member representing the 43rd Assembly District in Central Brooklyn, whose district sees the impact of ICE raids tearing families apart and local law enforcement being weaponized against neighbors.

Linda Flor Brito

Senior manager of policy & organizing at the Immigrant Defense Project, who said the New York for All Act remains the strongest piece of legislation to end the state's complicity in the disappearance of New Yorkers, the separation of families, and state-sanctioned violence.

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What they’re saying

“New York cannot and will not be an arm of a cruel federal deportation machine.”

— Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) (caribbeanlife.com)

“By passing the New York for All Act, lawmakers would protect immigrant families from both formal and informal collusion, preserve community trust, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used to serve New Yorkers, not advance federal crackdowns.”

— Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) (caribbeanlife.com)

“We must pass the New York for All Act to prevent ICE from using our local resources to wrongfully place people into their custody, separate families, and deport fellow New Yorkers.”

— Karines Reyes, Assembly Member, District 87 (caribbeanlife.com)

“When ICE raids tear families apart, and local law enforcement is weaponized against our neighbors, everyone becomes less safe, immigrant and native-born alike.”

— Brian Cunningham, Assembly Member, 43rd Assembly District (caribbeanlife.com)

“The New York for All Act remains the strongest piece of legislation that would end our state's complicity in the disappearance of New Yorkers, the separation of families, and the state-sanctioned violence being carried out by the Trump administration.”

— Linda Flor Brito, Senior Manager of Policy & Organizing, Immigrant Defense Project (caribbeanlife.com)

What’s next

The New York State Legislature is expected to vote on the New York for All Act during the 2026 legislative session.

The takeaway

The proposed New York for All Act represents a critical step in protecting immigrant communities in New York, limiting collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, and ensuring public resources are used to serve all New Yorkers, not advance harmful deportation policies.