New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York will provide free legal assistance to those detained at airports within the state due to immigration policies on Tuesday.
The announcement comes after the Supreme Court deemed Trump’s travel ban on seven majority-Muslim countries constitutional, according to the Associated Press. (RELATED: Supremes Deal Victory For Trump, Uphold Travel Ban)
“This policy is clear religious bias camouflaged as national security,” according to Cuomo’s press release.
As a result, Cuomo launched a new initiative through the Legal Defense Project administered by the Office of New Americans that would provide legal advice and help to those affected by the “discriminatory policy.” Through a toll-free, multi-lingual hotline, callers can “connect to free immigration attorneys, receive free and confidential immigration advice regardless of documentation status, and obtain referrals to public and private programs related to immigration,” to name a few.
However, the free services could come at a cost to taxpayers within the state.
The Liberty Defense Project has already proposed increasing its funding from $10 million to $20 million to legally assist 6,700 immigrants for a full year, although it is unclear how many of the 6,700 would receive assistance despite being illegal.
This is on top of increasing school funding by $100 million to address English as a second language, allocating $15 million to adult immigrant learners, $20 million toward the DREAM Act and $83 million to increase the age limit of Child Health Plus from 18 to 29 regardless of immigrant status.
New York has 800,000 on record as undocumented, one of the highest populations of illegal immigrants in the country.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to Cuomo’s office and the Office of New Americans for comment, but none were received in time for publication.
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