We stand in support of Governor Hochul‘s call for additional federal resources to deal with the migrant crisis in New York City. More than 100,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since last spring, and it has placed unprecedented strain on city and state resources. The City’s shelter population has reached record levels and last week alone, an additional 2,700 migrants arrived in the city in need of housing and social services.
Additional federal resources—which may include using federal installations for temporary housing– can help ease the shelter and housing shortage. Resources can also be used to employ an effective casework system to better help asylum seekers exit city shelter services and gain legal work status. Work authorization is paramount to ensure migrants don’t navigate to hazardous territories such as an underground construction economy that preys upon and exploits vulnerable workers like migrants.
LIUNA was founded more than a century ago by proud immigrants and we continue to work for fair treatment of immigrant workers in this nation and we represent more than 40,000 members in New York State. We believe the unprecedented challenges New York faces require unprecedented support from the federal government. It is in everyone’s best interest to support, process, and protect migrant workers as they navigate the asylum process and seek to care for themselves and their families.