Chair Encarnación asks about the future role of the IRC
Chair Encarnación asks how the IRC will function during future surges and whether it will expand. Ali says the IRC will continue as a coordinating body to monitor federal enforcement and policy changes and support agencies serving immigrant New Yorkers.
I had another question that just went out of my head.
But I guess, what do you see the function for IRC as continued surges or future surges come?
Where do you see them playing the similar role?
Do you see IRC expanding to include additional people?
What do you feel like for the future of the IRC?
Yeah, I think that it's critical to sort of really be grounded in, you know, why the IRC was established and for what purpose.
And it's really to, you know, serve as a coordinating body, right, to respond to the federal actions that are affecting New York City residents, to monitor the federal enforcement activity, and then to provide support
to city agencies and making sure that they have what they need to deliver services to immigrant New Yorkers and that they are also protected and have the support that they need to do this work.
So that work is ongoing.
I think that there are significant changes and increases that are happening on the federal level in terms of policy.
So it's not just enforcement activity, but we are seeing significant policy changes, public charge, changes to
other policies that have real impacts in New York City and are felt on the ground.
And so we're really...
pleased that we have thought partners within the IRC to help track and monitor those developments, but also work with us to deliver information to New Yorkers who might be impacted.