Despite the fact that New York City has been claiming for several weeks that it no longer has sufficient capacity to weather the shelter and services crisis, which has intensified with the arrival of more than 80,000 migrants in the last year, thousands of applicants asylum seekers not only continue to arrive in the Big Apple, but far from decreasing, arrivals have increased worryingly.
This was revealed this Wednesday by the MOIA Commissioner (Mayor’s Office of Migration Affairs), Manuel Castro, after assuring that the situation is becoming more and more unsustainable without the necessary help from the federal government, for which he once again urged Washington to to not leave New York City alone, which to date has supported more than 80,000 migrants, some 50,000 of whom are currently in the 170 emergency shelters and hotels open across the five boroughs.
“We are seeing hundreds of people arrive every week. The flow changes, but we have been seeing more people arrive, and it seems that the summer is contributing to that flow of people. However, as a City we have to be prepared for all kinds of scenarios”, said the MOIA Commissioner, who reaffirmed the commitment of the Municipal Administration to reach out to those who continue to arrive in the Big Apple, even if the City is with the water to the neck.
“Obviously we ask the federal government to support us, of course, with more resources, but above all to allow the people who are here to access their work permits and immigration status so that people do not have to depend solely on shelters and the City, because we have a limited capacity to provide services to them,” said Commissioner Castro. “However, we are going to continue to contribute to non-profit organizations so that they continue to help them in their communities, so that they continue to provide legal assistance services, health assistance and job development assistance, so that the people who continue to arrive and the who are here integrate better and faster into the city”.
And so that newcomers can continue to have support in their adjustment to life in New York and be able to have successful asylum processes, Mayor Eric Adams announced the extension of contracts with 10 satellite organizations to provide resources to new migrants, which include training job readiness, counseling and case management. He also revealed the addition of a new support center to serve newly arrived individuals and families, all with an investment of $2.3 million.
“This unprecedented crisis requires each of us to step up and do our part. That is exactly what the city of New York has done,” said the local president, after noting that the selected organizations will also offer workshops on immigrant rights in Spanish, Wolof, Russian and other languages.
“By working with community organizations, we have provided asylum seekers with housing, food and other vital services, ensuring that asylum seekers are treated with the dignity they deserve,” the burgomaster added, stressing his plea for Washington’s help. “We reaffirm our commitment to manage this crisis responsibly and ensure that asylum seekers receive the care they need. As I have said since this crisis began, New York City cannot handle this problem alone, we need a national strategy to address this national problem.”
The City confirmed that the organizations selected to continue reaching out to asylum seekers with in-person support services are Aid for Aids, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services of Brooklyn, Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services of Queens, Catholic Charities of Staten Island, the Mexican Coalition, International Child Program, La Colmena, Mercy Center, Mixteca, NICE and Catholic Charities Community Services. So far these associations have supported more than 31,000 newcomers.
Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, assured that the extension of support funds with organizations for another year for new asylum seekers who continue to arrive in New York in search of safety and opportunities, will help guide them on their new path.
“We are pleased to continue the services through the coordination of community centers that build on these initial services that we have already provided to more than 14,000 new arrivals seeking help,” said the religious leader. “We look forward to continuing this work together with our partner organizations and the Adams Administration to ensure that all those who have sought refuge in our city receive the care, resources and opportunities they deserve.”
Precisely, and as part of a support program for new immigrants, through partnerships with community organizations, Bike New York, the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs and the City Department of Transportation, delivered 20 free bicycles to new arrivals , as part of a New Yorker donation program that aims to deliver 200 units throughout the summer.
Anderson Villacres, who arrived in New York six weeks ago, was one of the beneficiaries of the bicycle delivery, which took place at the headquarters of the Mixteca organization, in Brooklyn, and not only expressed his excitement for already having a means of transportation own to mobilize, but he mentioned that it is one more example of what he called “the blessings” that New York gives to migrants.
“This type of thing is what we, as immigrants, value the most, because Mixteca is not only giving me a bicycle that will help me move around the city freely, without getting lost on the train because I don’t understand English, but also makes me feel part of a community that is supporting us,” said the 28-year-old Ecuadorian, who lives in a shelter in Brooklyn. “Now I would like to look for a job where I can use the bicycle, which is like a prize from God in the middle of a very hard month in which now what follows is to be able to find a lawyer to help me file my case of asylum”.
Adriana Herrera, another of the migrants who left the place on a bicycle, also thanked the gift, while a Colombian migrant, who preferred to keep his name, was left with a surprised face, after pedaling for only a few seconds in which the chain of his bike broke down A Bike New York representative assured her that they would repair it as soon as possible.
Lorena Korousias, executive director of Mixteca, assured that the contribution of the donated bicycles delivered by Bike New York plays a vital role in empowering migrants and fostering a sense of belonging in their new home.
“This donation allows our community members to freely navigate the city, search for employment, access resources and explore other opportunities. It will give them independence until they are on their own two feet and have their own wings to fly,” said the community leader.
Yesenia Mata, director of the organization La Colmena, added that the achievement of the bicycle plan is testimony to the importance of organizing.
“They are not just bicycles, it is a tool that shows the importance of working together, and how important it is to continue together as a community in the search for resources and opportunities so that one day the immigrant who arrives here as happened with my father, do not have to suffer”, said the activist.
Hildalyn Colón Hernández, deputy director of NICE, stressed that bicycles are only a symbol of what New Yorkers represent and what migrants can find in a city that welcomes them, contrary to what happens in other states such as Texas and Florida.
“Many of you already know how different New York is from other states, not just in the way we welcome you but in the resources and opportunities provided, and these bikes for asylum seekers will represent freedom, a ride of discovery and an empowerment tool, in which even one day many will be able to go to their appointment with immigration,” said Colón.