MOIA Commissioner Details Executive Order 13 Audit and Interagency Response
MOIA Commissioner Faiza Ali discusses the initial audit of city agency policies under Executive Order 13 and the ongoing work of the Interagency Response Committee to comply with local sanctuary laws.
Today I will provide a brief update on Moya and highlight six key areas of our work immigration legal services, the immigration legal support hotline, the Haitian Response Initiative, Rapid Response Collaborative, Language Justice and English Language Learning, and the Community Engagement Programs.
During a recent visit to 26 Federal Plaza, I watched immigrant New Yorkers arrive for a routine immigration proceedings, only to encounter an atmosphere of intimidation.
Hallways were filled with families lawfully seeking status while enforcement agents moved through the building in masks.
It was deeply unsettling and a stark reminder of what is at stake for the communities that we all serve.
At Moya's preliminary budget hearing, I outlined the challenges immigrant communities are facing under the federal administration's aggressive detention and deportation campaigns.
ICE's recent presence at the at Wycloff Medical Center in Brooklyn drew community protests and a highly visible NYPD response.
Consistent with Executive Order 13's directive to continuously review agency policies and protocols, NYPD in partnership with the Interagency Response Committee will assess whether there are any updates to the policy and procedure to be made in light of that incident.
Pursuant to EO 13, the agencies have completed their initial audit of policies and protocols with support from the Interagency Response Committee on interactions with local immigration enforcement and is updating its training guidelines and materials accordingly.
Moya remains an active participant in the ongoing work of the IRC and is firmly committed to upholding and complying with local laws.
This is a moment when immigrant New Yorkers need reassurance that their local government will stand with them and protect them.
Mayor Mamdani was elected in part because New Yorkers recognize the growing instability and anxiety many immigrant families face about their place in our society.
It is Moya's responsibility to help restore trust, reinforce that commitment, and ensure that there is continued access to schools, healthcare, housing, and city services for all New Yorkers.