The State of New York deployed 150 additional members of the National Guard this Monday to support the response to the immigration crisis. This action, together with an investment of $50 million, will help speed up the procedures for those who apply for work permits and formal requests for political asylum.
The state government’s objective is clear: Put the accelerator on so that newcomers obtain legal work status and “leave taxpayer-funded shelters,” as an official statement stated verbatim.
“We need to make sure that people can complete the necessary procedures to settle here, be able to work and begin to realize their American dream. Members of our National Guard play a very important role in assisting in the process. We are grateful for their service,” reiterated Governor Kathy Hochul.
This strategy is added to the 1,900 troops that currently provide logistical and operational support to immigrants throughout the state.
New York National Guard personnel currently staff 51 hotels and two Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers in New York City.
In partnership with federal and city officials, New York is currently in a “Month of Action,” where more than 50 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) staff are working to process work authorization paperwork resulting from of those who have made the request for political asylum or apply to this document for another reason.
In this sense, the commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Jackie Bray, said that “there is more to do to ensure that immigrants can be self-sufficient and we are advancing all available measures to ensure that happens.” he noted.
Its not that easy
Just a few days after the White House granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans who arrived in the country before July 2023, the formula to expedite work permits as a way to begin decongesting the shelters begins to have his first challenges.
Spokespeople for the New York City municipal government confirmed to local media that high TPS application fees and a cumbersome fee waiver application process could block or delay the application for immigrants who apply.
According to the experience of the ‘Tepeseans’, in the last two years, the process of waiting for approval is long and the commissions per application per person reach $545. That means that for a couple to be able to advance in this step, it involves an outlay of $1,090.
Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy confirmed to NBC that Mayor Eric Adams is asking the federal government to bring the fee waiver process online, so as not to delay access to complete applications, in addition to other ways to get the foot in the door. accelerator to this process.
Although Adams appreciated granting TPS to Venezuelans, he noted that only about 15,000 migrants will be able to apply for TPS, leaving many more who still need help obtaining work permits.
“We want to be clear: This is not going to help all the immigrants found in this city. We have around 60,000 in our care, 10,000 arrive per month. And many of these newcomers will not be able to apply for TPS, nor the other benefits of this initiative,” he argued.
For its part, the ‘Common Sense’ Caucus of the Republican minority in the Municipal Council, redoubled this Monday its position that the winds of “accelerated work permits” will only put more pressure on the “immigration tragedy” facing the big Apple.