In the midst of the immigration crisis facing New York and in connection with Hispanic Heritage Month, Governor Kathy Hochul announced this Friday the launch of the New York State Immigrant Integration Research and Policy Institute to help immigrants in the transition to community life, higher education, and the workforce.
This new Institute, which received funds in the state budget for the fiscal year 2023, will be based at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, where it converges the public policy think tank at the State University of New York (SUNY).
“We have been built with the hard work and determination of generations of immigrants, and this Institute will work to improve the lives of those who are trying to build a better life for themselves and their families”, said the state governor.
In the coming months, the executive director and deputy director of the Institute will analyze immigration data, and its correlation with economic and labor data to identify possible solutions in real time so that legislators help develop policies in favor of immigrants of all ages, nationalities and origins.
Protection for the undocumented
The design of this institute is based on protecting immigrants, including the undocumented, who often struggle for learning English, helping their children integrate into school, finding safe and affordable housing, secure jobs with a living wage, safe transportation and access to available services, with many fearing deportation.
In October 2021, Hochul enacted a law (S.343-A/A.3412-A) that classifies certain threats to report the status a person’s immigration status as extortion or coercion under New York law, and also opened educational and housing opportunities to help evacuees from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
According to the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), 343 refugees and holders of special immigrant visas ( SIV) were resettled in the state in 2021, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Afghanistan and Burma.
In the last 12 months, at least 1,300 Evacuated Afghans were also resettled in New York State.
For her part, the Chancellor of SUNY, Deborah F. Stanley, indicated that this house of studies welcomes students from all walks of life, countries and origins.
“We are honored that the Rockefeller Institute of Government hosts this Institute and facilitates its much-needed work to further our state’s commitment to welcoming immigrants and ensuring their success,” he concluded. she.