WASHINGTON, DC: This morning, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams met with representatives from the White House Domestic Policy Council, including Director Neera Tanden and former Secretary and Senior Advisor Tom Perez, to review ways that the federal government can support people seeking asylum in New York City and provide the city resources and infrastructural aid. They discussed expediting work authorization, improving language access, expanding Temporary Protected Status, increasing access to legal representation, and more. This White House meeting follows the Public Advocate’s trip to Washington D.C. in April, where he met with a range of legislators on the issue. Read more about the office’s federal requests here.
The Public Advocate released the following statement after the meeting:
“Supporting migrants seeking asylum is a national issue with an acute impact on New York City, and I’m glad to have had the opportunity to lift up the voices and concerns of asylum seekers and advocates on the ground to the White House. After over a year without adequate support for the city, we desperately need federal action that meets the scope and urgency of this moment in order to uphold our moral obligation to support our newest New Yorkers. It’s important for our national leaders to understand the impact and immediacy of these issues, and to partner with local leaders to deliver resources and results.
“I’m grateful to the White House for their receptiveness to our concerns and their commitment to advancing the conversation – my office will continue to serve as a connection between the people making decisions in Washington and the people most impacted by their policies in our city.”