Category: Press Statements
The Bronx Defenders Sues to Stop Unconstitutional Courthouse Drug Testing of Parents Appearing in Family Court
June 9, 2026 Bronx, NY – Today, The Bronx Defenders filed a federal lawsuit to stop officials from bringing back a program that gives New York City Family Court judges unlimited discretion to “ask” parents to urinate for a drug test in front of court staff. The program is called “voluntary,” but for parents facing the threat of […]
Columbia and Fordham Law Clinics Partner with Systems-Impacted Cannabis Entrepreneurs to Reform New York’s Rules
BRONX, N.Y., June 8, 2026. The Bronx Cannabis Hub, a project of The Bronx Defenders, today submitted comments to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on its review of the adult-use cannabis regulations. The comments call for reform in five areas where the current rules fall hardest on small and equity-licensed dispensaries: credit […]
Advocates, Survivors, Families, and Lawmakers Rallied in Albany to Stop Court-Ordered Family Separation Without Due Process
March 19, 2026 Albany, NY – At a moment when New York is grappling with how to keep families together and protect people from a federal deportation agenda that seeks to tear them apart, advocates, directly impacted families, public defenders, and lawmakers rallied today at the New York State Capitol to demand passage of the […]
NYC Public Defenders Join National Day of Action Calling for Increased Funding and Reduced Workloads
(NEW YORK, NY) — The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, The Bronx Defenders, and New York County Defender Services issued the following statement on today’s national Day of Action for Public Defense, in response to San Francisco Chief Public Defender Mano Raju — who was recently held in contempt […]
The Bronx Defenders Sue DOC for Stonewalling Records Request on Rikers Legal Visits
NEW YORK CITY – On April 14, The Bronx Defenders filed a petition against New York City’s Department of Correction for unlawfully denying a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request investigating systemic violations of incarcerated people’s constitutional right to counsel at Rikers Island. “The DOC’s own records show that Rikers staff interfere with our clients’ […]
Governor Hochul’s Latest Immigration Proposal Will Increase Collusion With ICE and Put Thousands of New Yorkers In Danger
Albany, NY – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced an update to her immigration proposal that would allow local police to collude with ICE when they believe they have probable cause to charge someone with a crime. In response, Immigration Policy Director Rosa Cohen-Cruz issued the following statement on behalf of The Bronx Defenders: “By allowing […]
Joint Written Testimony Examining Racial Disparities in New York City’s Family Policing System and the Need for Family Miranda Rights
New York City Council Committee on Children and Youth Examining Racial Disparities in New York City’s Family Policing System and the Need for Family Miranda Rights February 26, 2026 Written Testimony of the Article 10 Family Defense Organizations in New York City: The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Center for Family Representation, and Neighborhood Defender […]
New York for All Coalition Responds to Governor Hochul’s Proposed Bill Addressing Protections for Immigrants and Calls for Passage of the New York for All Act
Today, Governor Hochul introduced a proposal acknowledging the grave harm of New York local law enforcement colluding with ICE. In response, the New York for All Coalition, comprised of directly impacted families, advocacy, labor, faith, youth, and direct service organizations from across New York State, issued the following statement: “The emergence of the Governor’s proposed […]
The Safer Sanctuary Act Protects an Historic Law; Now Is The Time to Strengthen Sanctuary Further
New York, NY – On Thursday January 29, 2026, the New York City Council voted to override Mayor Adams’ lame duck veto of the Safer Sanctuary Act. In response, the ICE Out! NYC Coalition issued the following statement: “Thanks to the efforts of Councilmember Tiffany Cabán, Councilmember Alexa Avilés, Speaker Julie Menin, and their supermajority […]
Stop-and-Frisk on Wheels: NYCLU, NAACP, The Bronx Defenders Sue NYPD for Illegal Racial Profiling, Searches of NYC Drivers
The NYPD subjects Black and Latino drivers to suspicionless vehicle searches at racially disparate levels similar to those at the height of Stop & Frisk New York City, NY – Today, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), The Bronx Defenders and Milbank LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of the NAACP New York State Conference […]