New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Mayor Eric Adams today announced an allocation of $38 million in state funds to provide legal services to newly arrived immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. .
These funds are part of a broader state commitment to $50 million dollars to provide social assistance and legal services. In the current state budget, a total of $1.7 billion has been allocated to support the city’s response to the fiscal crisis caused by the arrival of thousands of immigrants.
This announcement comes just as the 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) comes into effect for Venezuelans, the largest group of immigrants to have arrived in New York. To be eligible, Venezuelans had to be in the country before July 31 of this year.
Governor Hochul highlighted in a press release the collaboration between the state and the city for more than a year to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis caused by the influx of migrants that began 17 months ago.
Both Hochul and Adams have advocated for economic aid and work permits for the thousands of immigrants under the city’s care. Their goal is to ensure that these individuals complete the necessary paperwork to obtain work authorization, find employment, and leave taxpayer-funded shelters.
State investment reinforces these efforts and seeks to help migrants obtain employment and eventually leave shelters. In total, approximately 60,000 immigrants are under the city’s care, receiving shelter, food, and children’s education, among other services.
With the expansion of TPS, teams are already working hard to help immigrants apply for work authorization, and this state investment will strengthen these efforts to facilitate their transition to more independent living.
Keep reading:
° Hochul says the border is “too open” and demands limits as New York faces a wave of migration
° Mayor Adams intensifies the battle to change the ‘right to shelter’ rule for immigrants