NYIC dismisses GOP lawsuit as ‘purely partisan attack’ on immigrant communities, democracy

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization for more than 200 immigration groups in New York State, on Monday dismissed as “purely a partisan attack” on immigrant communities and democracy a lawsuit by several New York Republican officials that seeks to stop more than 800,000 New Yorkers from voting in local municipal elections.

NYIC said the Republican officials, along with the New York Republican State Committee and the Republican National Committee, on Monday filed a legal challenge “seeking to subvert the will of the New York City Council.”

In December, the New York City Council passed Introduction 1867, allowing New York City residents who are otherwise qualified to register under New York State election law to vote in municipal elections.

Before the bill’s passage, NYIC said nearly one million New York City residents could not vote in local elections due to their citizenship status, “despite paying taxes and being invested in and contributing to the city.”

Prior to pushing for its passage, NYIC said it, assisted by a pro-bono legal team, conducted a “rigorous legal review of Intro 1867 and found that the bill did not violate New York State’s electoral laws or its constitution.”

“Unable to gain popular backing for their blatant efforts to suppress and deny certain New Yorkers the right to vote, the Republicans have taken their obviously anti-immigrant and racist agenda to the courts,” NYIC Executive Director, Murad Awawdeh told Caribbean Life. “We won’t allow members of a political party that has yet to accept the results of the 2020 Presidential elections or acknowledge their role in a violent insurrection against our democracy to subvert the will of New Yorkers through a baseless lawsuit.

“The Our City, Our Vote law ensures that NYC has the most inclusive democracy in the entire nation by allowing New Yorkers who live here, raise children here and give back to our neighborhoods in countless ways can have a say in the direction of our city,” he added.