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Dear Neighbor, 

As you may have heard, many asylum seekers have come to New York City for humanitarian assistance, some of whom are sheltered in our NY-16 community.  While there has been some misinformation circulating about who these migrants are, which I hope to clarify, I have predominantly heard from constituents who are asking how they can help support  those who’ve fled life threatening situations to protect themselves and their families. 

New York has often led the way in being a beacon to immigrants, upholding the knowledge that our immigrant neighbors are a source of strength, diversity, and talent for our communities and our economy. I am proud to represent constituents who are committed to continuing New York’s legacy of welcoming and supporting our most vulnerable newcomers.

Thank you to community members and advocates in our district who are committed to providing resources designed to help immigrant families thrive. I stand in partnership with NY-16’s amazing advocates and will continue to fight for additional federal resources to best support all newcomers arriving in our district and state.

If you have questions about what’s going on or how you can help, please check out the FAQ section at the end of this newsletter.

My office and I have been taking action to help migrants and advocate for humane immigration policies. Here’s what I’ve done so far:

• Alongside New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, I contacted the Department of Health and Human Services to push for a response about a plan introduced in the NY State Legislature to qualify undocumented individuals for healthcare.

• I sent a letter led by Representative Dan Goldman asking higher education institutions in New York to open their dorms to house asylum-seekers during summer break. 

• I sent a letter led by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asking to end an arbitrary rule which requires asylum-seekers to wait 180 days before applying for asylum and receiving a work visa.

• I co-sponsored H.R. 1325, the Asylum Seekers Work Authorization Act of 2023, which would allow asylum seekers to get work authorization as quickly as 30 days after applying for asylum. 

• I signed letters advocating for Temporary Protected States (TPS) designation or redesignation for Venezuela, Honduras, and El Salvador.

• I joined a Congressional letter and a joint public comment opposing current asylum bans and restrictions.

But there’s still more work to be done. Policy changes to support migrants are absolutely critical. Here’s what we need to do:

• End policies restricting asylum that lead to increased death and human rights violations for asylum seekers trying to find refuge.

• End the arbitrary 180 day waiting period required between applying for asylum and work authorization, by passing H.R. 1325, which I co-sponsor. Asylum seekers want to work and support their families. Allowing them to do so will mean we need fewer government resources to cover housing costs and other supportive services.

• Increase federal FEMA funding to New York City and State to assist their humanitarian welcome efforts.

• Decrease the asylum backlog, increase the number of asylum judges, and provide government-sponsored counsel for all asylum-seekers to ensure they have access to due process.

• Support state and local officials committed to aiding asylum seekers.

• Increase school funding to help asylum seekers enroll in schools and have access to additional teachers as well as linguistically and culturally appropriate curricular materials.

• Invest in resolving the root causes that lead to individuals needing to flee their home countries, including taking accountability for our government’s historic contributions to these forces.

We should all help migrants in whatever way we can. Here are a few ways to get started:  

• Show support when they arrive in your town and lead with love and compassion.

• Get involved. Check out what your local and state government is doing to support migrants arriving. New Rochelle has some great resources here, and New York City has other resources for asylum seekers and those looking to provide support.

We’ve also put together an FAQ for our community members who are looking to learn more about the immigration process in our district. Check it out below!

What is asylum?

Asylum may be granted to people who have been persecuted or fear they will be persecuted on account of race, religion, nationality, and/or membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Asylum is a legal process protected under domestic and international law. Due to asylum backlogs, asylum-seekers often wait years before their applications are reviewed and before they are given a court date to argue their claim. This delay leaves many asylum-seekers without documentation and support for long periods of time.

Who are the asylum-seekers in NYC and NY-16?

While asylum-seekers are fleeing a diverse number of countries, the majority of asylum-seekers coming to New York City and our district are fleeing the authoritarian dictatorship in Venezuela. They are registered with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and have been screened before coming to New York. U.S. Asylum law protects their right to remain in the U.S. until their asylum claims are fairly heard in court. 

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

TPS is a federal designation that keeps citizens of other countries in the United States from being removed if it is unsafe to return to their country due to armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other crisis. Countries have to be granted TPS every 18 months, which makes migrants’ status precarious. Venezuela has a TPS designation, signaling the U.S. government’s awareness of the extreme dangers present there.

Who is supporting migrants sheltered in NY-16?

New York City’s right to shelter law necessitates that the city covers the cost of housing for any individual who arrives in New York City, including those migrants who are currently being housed in surrounding municipalities like Westchester. There are also numerous nonprofits and individuals contributing resources, volunteering time, and organizing to ensure new migrants are welcomed to our district. If you are interested in supporting these efforts please refer to the links in this newsletter to get involved.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the migrants coming to our NY-16 community, I hope you’re as excited to welcome them as I am. Regardless of any human’s country of origin, documentation status, race, or socio-economic status, I encourage our community to assist and welcome our newcomers with empathy and love. 

Peace and love, 

Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D.