NEW YORK – On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams released a new approach outlining the next phase of the city’s response to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis resulting from the influx of asylum seekers arriving in all five boroughs. from spring 2022.
The mayor’s plan, titled “The Way Forward: Plan to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” is available for all New Yorkers to read online.
“Over the past year, New York City has faced an unprecedented humanitarian crisis brought on by global forces beyond our control,” Mayor Adams said. “We have moved mountains to help the tens of thousands of people who have arrived as our refugee population has grown at a dramatic rate. As we continue to respond, I am proud to announce ‘The Way Forward’, our plan to address the asylum seeker crisis and outline the work ahead of us. New Yorkers know that today’s asylum seeker is tomorrow’s citizen, leader, and innovator, and I’m proud that New York City is at the forefront, transforming a crisis into an opportunity for progress for the whole country. »
As the number of asylum seekers arriving in New York since last April exceeds 50,000, of which more than 30,000 are currently being cared for by the city, Mayor Adams announced he would create the Office of Asylum Seeker Operations (OASO) to focus solely on coordinating ongoing city activities with an emphasis on relocation and legal services, as well as a new 24/7 arrivals center for asylum seekers.
The plan also outlines new strategies the city will pilot to empower asylum seekers to access employment, including a program with places of worship to provide asylum seekers with a place to stay and connection to services, as well as a partnership with SUNY Sullivan to provide professional training. and accommodation for asylum seekers while awaiting work authorization.
Finally, the city will continue to advocate for additional financial and operational support from state and federal governments to better manage the asylum seeker crisis in the future.
“The asylum seeker crisis has challenged many of us in many ways, and the city’s response has been and continues to be one of care and compassion,” said First Vice Mayor Sheena. Wright. “Our blueprint is a blueprint for how we will move forward together, and I implore everyone at all levels to help where they can. This affects us all, and together is the best way to get through this crisis.”
New York City has stepped up its efforts during this crisis, handling an unprecedented influx of asylum seekers, largely on its own. Although more than 50,000 asylum seekers moved through the admission system of the city in the first place, currently, the City of New York offers a lugar para quedarse has more than 30,000 asylum seekers, more than every other city from the country.
Last year, the city launched a rapid and coordinated multi-agency effort to provide basic services and needs to the tens of thousands of asylum seekers arriving, providing shelter, food, clothing, access to health care, legal information, education and more.
The city launched the Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center and satellite sites, which have now served more than 14,000 asylum seekers, providing social assistance, legal, medical and educational assistance, as well as a range of other services. The city has also opened 92 emergency shelter sites and currently has seven open emergency response and humanitarian assistance centers that provide asylum seekers with a place to stay, and through the Open Arms project, the city has enrolled more than 13,000 students in temporary housing since last summer. .
“All of our students and their families deserve our full support, and I am proud of how our public schools have stepped up to support our new New Yorkers,” said the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. York, David C. Banks. “We are so grateful to our schools and the greater New York City community for working tirelessly with us to create safe, welcoming and supportive schools and communities.”