Asian American Federation Celebrates State Budget Win, Key State Investments for AAPI New Yorkers
$30M Secured for Essential Services for AAPI Communities Across New York, but Gaps Remain in Support for immigrant communities
New York, NY — On May 26, the New York State Legislature and Governor Hochul approved the FY27 State Budget which includes a $30 million investment to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Equity programs.
The Asian American Federation serves as a co-lead of the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition (EBC). In partnership with the Coalition of Asian American Children and Families, and more than 130 Asian-led and -serving organizations across the State, the coalition has worked to secure investments that strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations and address the evolving needs of Asian New Yorkers.
“AAF and our member organizations are grateful to Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie for their continued commitment to New York’s Asian communities,” said Catherine Chen, CEO of the Asian American Federation. “This support builds on the AAF-led historic $10 million investment first secured for Asian American communities in 2022 and reflects both the impact of sustained advocacy and a growing recognition of the vital role Asian American organizations play in supporting New Yorkers. We also deeply appreciate the leadership of Assemblymember Grace Lee, State Senator John Liu, State Senator Jeremy Cooney, and other members of the Asian Pacific American Task Force, whose steadfast advocacy helped make this funding possible.
“While the AAPI Equity funding helps to meet critical needs, there must be strong, transformative investments in other areas to guarantee the long-term well-being and security of our communities. New York State’s decision to allocate $82.4 million in funding for immigration legal services recognizes the essential role legal representation plays in protecting immigrant New Yorkers and keeping families together. However, it still falls short of meeting the desperate urgency of the moment. Across New York, immigrant families are living under the shadow of surging ICE enforcement, complex legal battles and the devastating possibility of being detained, deported, and separated from their loved ones. It is imperative that the State make larger investments in legal defense services and community-based legal infrastructure so that AAPI immigrant families are not left to navigate these challenges alone.
“At the same time, AAF recognizes and welcomes key investments in other areas that are important to the well-being and inclusion of New York’s Asian American communities. We applaud investments in mental health, continued baseline funding for language access, and $3 million for the Census Planning Commission to help ensure every New Yorker is heard, counted, and served in the language they speak.”
“The FY27 State Budget’s investments in immigrant legal services, housing access, nutrition services, and other programs are a welcome step forward in assisting New York’s refugee communities, but they are not an endpoint,” said Mai Abdullah, Executive Director of Refugees Helping Refugees. “Upstate and Western New York is home to the overwhelming majority of refugees in New York State. Refugees face challenges in finding housing, employment, medical and mental health care—all while navigating language barriers. At RHR, our mission is to help refugees access the skills and resources necessary for their own advancement, but we need robust support from State programs and agencies to make this possible. The heartbreaking story of Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a refugee in Buffalo who died earlier this year from neglect at the hands of Border Patrol agents, exemplifies the urgent needs of our communities. We ask that Albany continue to invest in improved language access, fully funded legal services, and other programs to protect and support refugee New Yorkers.”
We look forward to partnering with the Governor and state leaders to build on this progress and empower AAPI New Yorkers—the fastest growing population in the state—to build stable lives, care for their families, and live with dignity and hope.