The campaign seeks to cover the exorbitant fees that come with applications for green cards, visas and other documents that give immigrants legal status, reports Patch.

The $16.6 million commitment to the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project coincides with the opening of a new immigration court, which began operating with hardly any public notice or transparency.

The community organizations bringing the suit include: Make the Road New York, African Services Committee, Asian American Federation, Catholic Charities of New York, and Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.

The New York City Police Department received and denied 2,916 requests, according to The Daily News.

The New York Times profiles the pioneering initiative, the nation’s first public defender system for detained immigrants in deportation proceedings, which is jointly staffed by The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, the Bronx Defenders.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to raid East New York’s Women In Need homeless shelter according to a report in the New York Daily News. The agents were denied entry when they failed to provide a warrant.

“We are thankful that the ICE raids this weekend were unsuccessful, due in part to the remarkable efforts of advocates across New York City to educate individuals on their rights during encounters with ICE."