FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2025

Safe Passage Project Applauds FY26 Budget Investment in Unaccompanied Minors

NEW YORK, NY — Today, the New York City Council will vote on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes $16.5 million for the Unaccompanied Minors and Families Initiative (UMFI)—a critical investment in legal representation and social services for immigrant youth in removal proceedings.

Unaccompanied minors fleeing violence and instability are arriving in New York in search of safety. Instead, many are met with court dates they don’t understand and the threat of deportation—with no lawyer to help them.

Angela Fernandez, Executive Director, Safe Passage Project:

“This funding is lifesaving. These children have endured unimaginable hardship only to arrive in a system that expects them to defend themselves in court alone.

This allocation is a necessary and urgent response. ICE has ramped up enforcement in New York, including courthouse arrests and so-called ‘wellness checks’ that target immigrant families. These actions retraumatize children, break community trust, and drive families into the shadows—making it harder for youth to attend school, access services, or feel safe in their own homes.

We commend the New York City Council Members who listened to advocates and centered the needs of immigrant youth in this process. Their commitment will allow organizations like Safe Passage Project to keep fighting for fairness and justice in an immigration system that too often denies both.

Safe Passage Project will continue working to ensure that no child faces immigration court alone—and that every young person is met with care, not cruelty.”