We officially have a new President of the United States. Congrats to President Joe Biden and the FIRST woman Vice President Kamala Harris. Representation matters and to have a woman of color helping to lead our country through the tough road ahead is a huge milestone.
“It’s no secret that many of the Trump Administration’s policies and proposals have harmed the communities we proudly serve. From onerous immigration policy changes, to the ban of transgender people serving in the military, to the heart-wrenching separation of immigrant children from their families, to proposed cuts to lifesaving public benefits, the impact on our clients has been overwhelming,” said Beth Goldman, NYLAG’s President & Attorney-in-Charge
In response to the many challenges, we spoke out and advocated against harmful policies and rhetoric, while navigating the real-life consequences these changes had and continue to have on the communities we serve. We urge the new administration to immediately take steps to undo some of the most egregious harms caused by the prior administration. These include:
- Protect immigrant communities by reinstating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and reversing Trump’s public charge rule.
- Strengthen supports for LGBTQ people, by ending the trans ban in the military and overturning a rule that narrows the legal definition of sex discrimination in the Affordable Care Act so that it omits protections for transgender people.
- Ensure public benefits for people experiencing poverty, by withdrawing a proposed rule on a Revision of Categorical Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would eliminate SNAP benefits for 3.1 million individuals nationwide, take free school meals away from the children in those families, and punish people with even meager savings
Unfortunately, not all of these are simple fixes, and undoing many of these policies will require navigating legal hurdles. The fact is that right now the need is great and the future is uncertain. But NYLAG is responding. From protecting immigrants, to preserving healthcare, to ensuring access to vital benefits, and more, NYLAG will always respond to the urgent and emerging needs of the communities who need us.
