MOIA Commissioner Faiza Ali Shares Personal Background and Sanctuary Commitment

Okay great so just before we start just a couple of housekeeping rules so um as a reminder for this year's executive budget because uh we have a shorter timeline uh we're doing all of the public testimony on one day on Wednesday June 10th beginning at 9 30 a.m so please make sure to sign up on June for June 10th Wednesday 9 30 a.m we'll try to make it as fun and exciting all day as possible so please come join us that day um and also I because we're pressed for time because we have to be out of the space and we only have the translators for a certain number of hours um if members could keep their questions brief and if you guys could keep the responses as brief as possible so we can get through everything that'd be great um and if we can keep the openings to 10 minutes if it goes over it's okay but yes okay awesome thank you so much and oh turn over to council for swearing in good afternoon to your affirm to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth before this committee and to respond honestly to council members commissioner ally deputy commissioner Sanchez.

And Deputy Commissioner Lucero.

You may begin.

Great.

Thank you so much.

Good afternoon, and thank you to Chair of Encarnacion and members of the Committee on Immigration, as well as Chairs Lee, Deputy Speaker Dr.

Natasha Williams, and members of the Committee on Finance for this opportunity to testify today.

My name is Faiza Ali, and I'm the Commissioner for the New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, or Moya, and I'm joined today by my colleagues Lorena Lucero, Deputy Commissioner of Programs and Policy, as well as Jesnea Sanchez, Acting Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Strategic Initiatives.

As the daughter of immigrants from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, I understand deeply the role that local government must play in ensuring communities are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

Across the country, aggressive ICE enforcement operations have sown fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities.

And in this moment, New York City must be clear.

We remain committed to protecting all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status.

At a time when immigrant families are increasingly being met with disdain or contempt and hostility, local government must be a store a source of stability, clarity, and protection.

That requires investment, operational capacity, and sustained support to meet our responsibility to immigrant New Yorkers.