In the heart of New York City, Asian immigrant communities are facing an unprecedented wave of ICE arrests and complex legal challenges. The Rapid Immigrant Support and Empowerment (RISE) Network a coalition of Asian-led community organizations, is struggling to meet the growing demand for legal services. With the city’s budget deadline looming, advocates are calling for increased funding to support these vulnerable communities.
The case of L.C, a Chinese immigrant detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last April, highlights the dire situation. L.C, who has lived in the U.S. without legal status since the 1990s, found himself in a legal limbo when the Chinese government refused to acknowledge his nationality. His family, unable to find a pro bono immigration lawyer who spoke Fujianese, turned to the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) for help.
The Complexities of Immigration Detention
L.C.’s journey through the immigration detention system was fraught with obstacles. Initially transferred to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania, he was later moved to the Miami Correctional Facility in Indiana. During his 11-month detention, L.C. faced immense uncertainty and fear of deportation to a third country, separating him from his family.
Jack Hsia, the senior attorney at CPC who handled L.C.’s case, explained the complexities involved. “The Chinese government refused to acknowledge that he was a Chinese national, and they [ICE] just held him. They just kept holding him. They wouldn’t tell him how to get out. They didn’t give him any hearings,” Hsia said. L.C.’s release came after Hsia filed a prolonged detention habeas petition under Zadvydas v. Davis a 2001 Supreme Court ruling that limits ICE’s detention period when deportation is not reasonably foreseeable.
The RISE Network: A Lifeline for Asian Immigrants
The RISE Network has become a crucial lifeline for Asian immigrants in New York City. Comprising 15 member organizations, the network serves 1.5 million Asian New Yorkers in more than 12 languages. In the past six months alone, RISE partners have assisted over 2,200 people seeking legal support. However, advocates warn that the network is already at capacity as ICE arrests among Asian immigrants rise.
With the city’s budget deadline approaching, advocates are calling on the City Council to fully fund the RISE Network at $3.5 million in the FY2027 budget an increase from $2 million last fiscal year. Catherine Chen, chief executive officer of the Asian American Federation emphasized the urgency of the situation. “A fully funded RISE Network is the answer. The demand is real, the need is urgent, and our communities cannot afford to wait,” Chen said.
The Surge in ICE Arrests and Community Response
Asian immigrants make up nearly 30% of New York City’s non-citizen population and have been significantly impacted by increased immigration enforcement. Between and March 2026, ICE arrested 1,425 individuals in New York with Asian citizenship, a sevenfold increase from the same period under the previous administration. In New York City, arrests of Chinese immigrants specifically have increased by 1,044% since 2026, while arrests of Bangladeshi immigrants have increased by 1,000%.
Community-based organizations are playing a critical role in providing a safety net for immigrants who are not fluent in English or familiar with the U.S. legal system. Carlyn Cowen, CPC’s chief policy and public affairs officer, noted the surge in demand for legal services driven by immigration fears. “We’ve seen families being torn apart through detention by ICE, and the wait list for legal services grows and grows,” Cowen said. “And it is incredibly hard to find services in languages that our community members speak.”
With RISE funding, CPC hired its first in-house attorney that speaks both Mandarin and Spanish. Over the past year, the organization has conducted more than 2,000 Know Your Rights trainings, provided 300 legal consultations, and taken on 100 cases. Other organizations in the RISE network report similar trends, with Homecrest Community Services in Brooklyn assisting 555 clients by May 2026, exceeding its target by 255%.
Local officials are also backing the push for funding. City Council Speaker Julie Menin emphasized the importance of supporting community-based organizations. “Immigrants are best served by organizations rooted in their own communities — people who speak their language, understand their culture, and have already earned their trust,” Menin said. Councilmember Susan Zhuang echoed that call, highlighting the growing demand for these services.
As the city grapples with these challenges, the need for increased funding and support for the RISE Network has never been more critical. With many Asian immigrants still in limbo, the fight for legal protection and community support continues.
