Mayor Eric Adams traveled to the capital today to meet with legislators and Secretary Mayorkas on the challenges surrounding asylum seekers in New York City. Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, who met Wednesday with the White House Domestic Policy Council and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness to push for federal action to support asylum seekers and housing solutions, released the following statement on the mayor’s trip:
“I am glad to see the mayor return to D.C. with a further push for federal action after my office’s trip yesterday. Our city has a moral and legal obligation to provide shelter and services to people who arrive here seeking asylum, and we cannot back away from that responsibility. The federal government must commit resources and enact policies that help our city and country welcome migrants with dignity and support.
“As I discussed with the White House yesterday, we need expanded infrastructural support in New York City and throughout the country, additional resources for the city, expedited work authorization, improved language access and expanded Temporary Protected Status including for Black migrants, and increased access to legal representation for our new and aspiring New Yorkers. I urge the mayor to reinforce our office’s calls today, and advance an approach in our city and beyond which focuses on meeting the urgent needs of the people coming to our country, rather than denying or deferring them.”
Read more about the Public Advocate’s meetings with the White House and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.