Lawmakers are pleading with Gov. Kathy Hochul to not change legislation aiming to streamline the citizenship process for foreign-born New York soldiers and their families. 

The Legislature passed the bill this year, approving $500,000 to create a program and hire two positions within the state Division of Veterans' Services, that would connect military veterans without legal status in New York to resources to become naturalized U.S. citizens.

"It's of the utmost importance for New York to demonstrate to our veterans that regardless of their place of birth, or regardless of the place of birth of their families, we as New Yorkers recognize that veterans are valuable, and that they deserve more than a volunteer program," sponsor Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz said Friday.

Lawmakers say Hochul is considering scrapping the funding and making the program volunteer-based. With one week until Veterans Day, the governor is reviewing the legislation to potentially sign it to commemorate the holiday. 

"What those changes will end up being, at the end of the day, we'll have to wait and see, but I think all of the parties that are involved we're seeing now have a clear commitment to our veterans and their families," Cruz said.

Cruz, a Queens Democrat, says removing the funding would gut the program's intent, and that the $500,000 to hire a coordinator and do outreach to veterans is vital — and a pittance of the state's $229 billion budget.

The assemblywoman Friday said she's had productive conversations with the governor's office and hopes they'll reach an agreement without too many substantial changes. 

"I'm hoping to see this signed on Veterans Day, or very soon after that, but I think we're in a good path," she said.

A volunteer program provides referrals to veterans who need immigration services, but lawmakers say is ineffective. 

"The problem is, no one knows that program exists," the assemblywoman said.

The Legislature threw support behind creating the Alex R. Jiménez New York State Military Immigrant Family Legacy Program — named for a New Yorker from the Dominican Republic who died while serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq in 2007. Federal deportation proceedings began for his wife, who was also without legal status, while his body remained missing for over a year.

The bill passed unanimously this session, and lawmakers say it should be signed as-is. Legislators are concerned the program will be ineffective without paid positions for proper oversight. 

Republican state Sen. Jake Ashby, a former U.S. Army captain who was serving in Iraq at the time of Jiménez's death, helped draft the bill several years ago. 

He's says not hiring staff for the program would be a mistake.

"It's such an opportunity for the state, again, to lead on an issue that's plaguing our country, that's dividing people," Ashby said. "Here's an opportunity to bring people together on the heels of Veterans Day for the sacrifices that our veterans have made, their families have made. 

The program will help connect the veterans and their families, and discharged LGBTQ service members, with pro bono legal assistance. It would also direct SUNY and CUNY to study how campuses can provide more resources for veteran students.

"Gov. Hochul needs to sign this bill as it is and make this a reality for the family members who've sacrificed on our behalf and continue to do each day," Ashby said.

A spokesperson with Hochul's office Friday said the governor will review the legislation. 

Hochul's staff would not answer specific questions about why the governor is uncertain if the state should spend $500,000 to hire two staff members and establish the program.