Manuel Castro Releases Statement as he Concludes his Time as Commissioner at NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs

For Immediate Release: February 17, 2026

Contact: Shaina Torres, scoronel@cityhall.nyc.gov

Under the leadership of Manuel Castro, MOIA grew from a 19 million to a $50+ million operation and awarded $120 million in contracts and grants to immigrant-serving non-profit organizations

New York – Today, as Commissioner Manuel Castro concludes his time at the NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), he releases the following statement on the MOIA leadership transition.

Read the statement below:

Having crossed the border as a child and grown up undocumented, with all the uncertainty that came with it, I could never have imagined that one day I would serve as New York City's Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs.

I am proud to have been the first formerly undocumented immigrant to hold this role and to have stewarded this office during such consequential and historic times.

Leading this office on behalf of millions of immigrant New Yorkers has been a profound honor, and one I hope inspires others who once believed such a journey was impossible.

During this period, amid multiple overlapping crises affecting immigrant communities, the office expanded its reach and impact significantly. We grew from a $19 million operation to a $50 million+ citywide office, serving more immigrant New Yorkers and investing more deeply in nonprofit partners than at any point in the office's history.

We awarded more than $120 million in contracts and grants to immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations, strengthening frontline capacity and expanding support to grassroots groups across the city.

I am especially grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside dedicated public servants across city government and our nonprofit partners, and to spend so much time with immigrant New Yorkers from around the world who welcomed me into their communities across the five boroughs.

Grounding our work in the neighborhoods where immigrant New Yorkers live and work, and welcoming thousands of newly arrived migrants at the Port Authority and throughout our citywide service system, were among the most meaningful experiences of my tenure.

I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me and proud of what we built together during this unprecedented period. I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and wish the incoming Commissioner every success.