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Agency Testimony

Commissioner discusses immigration legal services for foster care youth

New York City Council · May 28, 2026 · starts 0:24:58 · 54 sec

Jones-Gaston highlights $1.6M for immigration legal services and fees for children in foster care, noting ACS's long history of working with pro bono providers on special immigrant juvenile status and new Trump administration fee increases.

Rebecca Jones Gaston

The executive budget also includes $1.6 million for immigration legal services and fees for children and youth in foster care.

Rebecca Jones Gaston

Since at least 2006, ACS has been working with legal service providers to assist youth in care by obtaining special immigrant juvenile status.

Rebecca Jones Gaston

ACS is extremely grateful to these providers who have helped countless youth in care get green cards all pro bono.

Rebecca Jones Gaston

Given the increasing demands for immigration legal assistance, ACS will now be able to provide attorneys handling these matters with $2,000 per child.

Rebecca Jones Gaston

In addition,

Rebecca Jones Gaston

The Trump administration recently created new fees and increased existing fees for various immigration relief applications, and this additional funding will provide reimbursement for those fees.