Require Signs Explaining Immigration Rights and Legal Protections
Enacted on Oct 26, 2026
Signed into Law
Local Law 2026/114
✦ Plain-Language Summary
This bill would require the city to create and post signs that clearly explain residents' legal rights when dealing with federal immigration authorities. The signs would be written in plain language, translated into multiple languages, and posted in city buildings and facilities. The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs would also conduct community outreach to educate people about these protections.
The story behind this bill
Why it was introduced
Council members said federal immigration agents were making warrantless arrests, entering homes without judicial warrants, and increasing enforcement near New York City, including at courthouses, shelters, and Canal Street. The bill aims to inform immigrant New Yorkers of their constitutional rights and the city's sanctuary laws through posted signage.
At the hearings
Committee on Immigration · 2026-03-09
The committee held an oversight hearing on sanctuary protections and heard initial testimony on Int. 55 from MOIA and many advocacy and legal service groups, which later led to amendments narrowing and clarifying the bill's signage requirements.
In support
- Catholic Charities Community Services, Legal Aid Society, New York Immigration Coalition, NYCLU, and other advocacy and legal service groups: Supported requiring clear signage and know-your-rights materials to protect immigrants from federal enforcement.
Raised concerns
- MOIA and various advocacy groups listed in the committee report: Raised implementation questions that led to later amendments, such as which code sections and languages to include.
City agencies: MOIA testified at the hearing but the report does not detail a specific position beyond participating in testimony that informed later amendments.
Show 1 more hearing
Committee on Immigration · 2026-06-11
The committee voted to approve the amended bill, Int. 55-A, without discussion of opposition; the chair and sponsor both spoke in strong support, citing federal immigration enforcement actions as the reason for the bill.
In support
- Council Member Encarnación (Chair): Said the bill reinforces protections for immigrant communities facing abusive federal enforcement actions.
- Council Member Avilés (sponsor): Said clear signage will give people confidence to assert their rights during stressful encounters with federal agents.
“The bill requires, um, as the chair noted, MOYA to create and hang signage on city property telling people about their rights when engaging, uh, with federal authorities.”
“It is imperative that immigrant New Yorkers and their communities are aware of their constitutional rights and the obligation of the city agencies under our local laws.”
How it turned out
The Council passed Int. 55-A on June 11, 2026, by a vote of 44 to 6, with 1 absent. The Mayor returned the bill unsigned on July 13, 2026, after the city adopted a City Charter rule on July 11, 2026. The bill became law without the Mayor's signature.
What changed along the way
- Moved MOIA signage provisions to a new section and DOE signage provisions to section 21-977
- Required MOIA-drafted know-your-rights material instead of Fourth Amendment explanations
- Removed requirement to include identifying-information disclosure rules on signage
- Changed outreach locations to shelters and public parks instead of emergency response centers
- Shifted duty from the MOIA commissioner to MOIA itself and changed reporting deadlines to every three years
What the record doesn’t say
- The documents do not explain why the Mayor returned the bill unsigned rather than signing or vetoing it outright.
- The record does not explain why MOIA's position on the final amended bill was not stated in the June 2026 hearing transcript.
- The documents do not say why Council Member Nurse was listed as absent from the June 11 roll call despite being a sponsor.
Sources
- Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-29-26
- Committee Report 3/9/26
- Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council
- Committee Report 6/11/26
- Proposed Int. No. 55-A - Fiscal Impact Statement- City Council
- Committee Report - Stated Meeting
- Hearing Transcript 6/11/26
- Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 6-11-26
Written by AI from official Council records. Votes and status come from the record; quotes are checked word for word against the official hearing transcripts.
Details
- Introduced
- Jan 29, 2026
- Passed Council
- Jul 11, 2026
- Enacted
- Jul 11, 2026
- Body
- Committee on Immigration
- Type
- Introduction
- Status
- Enacted
Sponsors (28)
Official Description
This bill would require the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) to develop signage that clearly describes the provisions enacted in the sections of the Administrative Code of the City of New York pertaining to access to city property and immigration enforcement. The signage would also incorporate know-your-rights material drafted by MOIA. MOIA would prepare the signage in plain language, translate it into multiple languages, and make it available to city agencies. Each covered agency would conspicuously post the signage in at least one centralized location in all city property under its jurisdiction. Covered agencies would clearly identify which areas of such city property are non-public. MOIA would conduct outreach regarding the contents of the signage and report to the speaker of the council regarding its community outreach efforts. Additionally, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) would make available age-appropriate versions of signage describing DOE’s policies regarding access to school property and participation in or assistance with immigration enforcement. DOE would report to the mayor and the speaker of the council regarding where it has posted the required signage.