More than 5,500 Work Authorization Applications Have Been Completed Since October
In Upstate New York 716 Work Authorization Applications and 621 TPS Applications Have Been Filed; Nearly 90 Percent of Eligible Asylum Seekers Have Filed or are in the Process of Filing TPS Applications
In New York City More than 4,800 Work Authorization and 2,200 TPS Applications Have Been Filed
Governor Kathy Hochul today provided an update on temporary protection status applications for Venezuelan asylum seekers and migrants. In New York State, more than 2,800 applications have been completed since eligibility for TPS was expanded last month. Today's update builds on the State's existing $50 million commitment for casework and legal services, which the Governor announced in September. In total, more than 4,800 work authorization applications and more than 2,800 TPS applications have been completed in the past 45 days.
“Migrants and asylum seekers came here to work, and we can solve this crisis by getting them into stable jobs and independent living," Governor Hochul said. "I have directed my Administration to provide significant resources and support to help as many migrants and asylum seekers as possible attain legal work status. We have more than 450,000 open jobs in New York -- once a migrant or asylum seeker can legally work, they can leave temporary shelters or hotels and begin a new life."
New York State's Office for New Americans has identified 805 Venezuelans who were relocated to Upstate hotels by New York City. All members of this group have been counseled by state contracted local nonprofits and nearly 90 percent of those eligible have filed or are in the process of filing TPS applications. Specifically, 621 TPS applications have been filed and an additional 85 are in process.
Governor Hochul has also assigned Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos to coordinate legal services with New York City. The State has identified locations for the federal team as well as supported expanded services across New York City. This builds on the ongoing work occurring at the State funded, City run, Asylum Application Help Center.
Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said, “We know that the recent new arrivals have come to this country to improve their lives and the lives of their families, Whether individuals are seeking refuge, a better job, or a safe home, the State of New York has welcomed generations of individuals who respect our laws and are trying to make a better life. The Department of State’s Office for New Americans, has seen the positive benefits and contributions immigrants make to the communities across the State of New York. Under the Governor’s leadership, the State and our Office for New Americans and its partners will continue working toward making sure there is opportunity for all.”
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “DEC is proud to play an integral role on Governor Hochul’s multi-agency team helping migrants and asylum seekers transition to safe and secure livelihoods here in New York. DEC’s staff are experts in managing complex operations and have been thrilled to apply that experience to helping migrants realize the American dream through work authorizations, legal protections, and employment assistance.”
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership New York State has stepped up and stepped in to help newly arrived asylum seekers do what they can to gain legal work authorization. These efforts not only benefit each family who gains legal protection and work authorization but helps NYC decompress it’s shelters by helping migrants live independently.”
Responding to New York’s Migrant Crisis
Governor Hochul has identified work authorization as the path out of this crisis, allowing migrants and asylum seekers to leave taxpayer-funded shelters and begin living independently as generations of immigrants have done. After months of advocacy from Governor Hochul and a broad coalition of political, civic and business leaders, the White House announced plans to grant Temporary Protected Status to individuals who arrive in the United States from Venezuela on or before July 31, 2023; the City of New York estimates this will allow more than 15,000 Venezuelan individuals to attain legal work status within 30 days.
Additionally, the Governor has surged personnel and resources to case management, to help migrants and asylum seekers fill out the necessary paperwork to attain legal work status. This includes deploying 250 National Guard personnel assigned to full-time case management services, part of a deployment of more than 2,100 National Guard personnel to address this ongoing situation. The Governor has also deployed significant financial resources to support case management, including $38 million for the city for case management and legal services; $20 million allocated to local nonprofits serving asylum seekers and migrants; $20 million to help New York City with a casework surge through NYC Health + Hospitals; $10 million for migrant legal services.
Governor Hochul has led a robust state response to this crisis. Overall, the State has committed nearly $1.9 billion to support asylum seekers and migrants, including for shelter, transportation and social services; the State recently advanced $250 million to the City for these purposes. The State has also offered up multiple State-owned sites, such as the former Lincoln Correctional Facility in Manhattan and Building 197 at JFK Airport, to be used as shelters; the State is also covering the cost of multiple Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs) at Creedmoor Psychiatric Facility and on Randall's Island.