NEW YORK, CMC – The Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, has awarded US$20 million to 17 community-based organizations that assist Caribbean and different refugees turn out to be employed whereas adjusting to their new houses in New York.
Most of the migrants arriving in New York after crossing the southern border of america are nationals from Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
Hochul mentioned the Refugee Assist Providers Program, funded by the US federal Workplace of Refugee Resettlement, continues to be “a basic a part of the state’s profitable efforts to resettle refugees in communities throughout New York.
“New York State has a proud historical past of welcoming these displaced by violence or fleeing persecution with open arms,” she mentioned. “These investments will carry refugee communities and characterize our unwavering dedication to the likelihood and promise they create to our state.”
Hochul mentioned the Refugee Assist Providers Programme offers companies that tackle obstacles to Employment, reminiscent of social and cultural adjustment, job search abilities, work expertise, and English proficiency.
She mentioned transitional companies are additionally supplied to make sure continued Employment and improve development alternatives.
The governor mentioned the New York Workplace of Momentary and Incapacity Help’s Refugee Providers bureau is liable for implementing applications and companies to help refugees in New York State.
She mentioned federal sources are directed to native entities that assist refugees and their households, in addition to others in an identical immigration standing, to attain financial and social self-sufficiency.
Workplace of Momentary and Incapacity Help Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn mentioned, “New York’s heritage is closely influenced by our willingness to simply accept and assist individuals fleeing persecution, violence, and intolerance overseas.
“As we acknowledged World Refugee Day this week, we proceed that proud custom by offering a haven for these people and households, together with the assist they should begin life anew in our state,” she added.
New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley mentioned the state “has all the time been a haven for people fleeing violence and persecution.
“We acknowledge the numerous contributions of our refugee and immigrant populations, and thru the Division of State’s Workplace for New People, we work to assist and uplift these people as they transition to a brand new life right here in our state,” he added. “This US$20 million award builds on these efforts and can assist present refugees with the instruments they should succeed and thrive in right this moment’s job market.”
Hochul mentioned 17 not-for-profit refugee companies suppliers nationwide had been awarded funding to supply Employment and transitional assist companies to assist not too long ago resettled refugees and their households adapt to life within the US.
The governor mentioned New York State welcomed almost 4,200 refugees or people on Particular Immigrant Visas between October 2022 and September 2023, most of whom resettled in communities upstate.
She mentioned refugees are probably the most scrutinized and vetted people to journey to america. Earlier than resettling, they endure quite a few safety checks by intelligence businesses, together with biometric assessments, medical screenings, and in-person interviews with US Division of Homeland Safety officers.
“Refugees residing in New York make important contributions to the state’s economic system as earners, taxpayers, and shoppers, based on a examine by the New American Economic system,” Hochul mentioned. “Refugee households earned an estimated US$6.2 billion yearly and contributed roughly US$2 billion in federal, state, and native taxes.”
Final week, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams welcomed US President Joe Biden’s government order increasing work authorization for longtime undocumented Caribbean and different immigrants.
Biden not too long ago introduced new actions that will assist the power of undocumented Caribbean and different immigrants to work and stay in america with their households with out worry of deportation. On the identical time, they pursue a pathway to authorized standing.
On Tuesday, Adams thanked and congratulated Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Biden administration for his or her “daring, compassionate management over the previous few weeks.”
“New York Metropolis is a metropolis of immigrants, and hundreds of thousands have come to our metropolis and our nation in pursuit of the American Dream over the previous two centuries. They didn’t count on it to be handed to them — they got here to work for it,” mentioned Adams, stating that Biden has “introduced that dream a step nearer to actuality for therefore many as soon as once more.
“The chief orders the president has issued over the previous few weeks will convey order to the border, reduction to cities throughout the nation, and alternative to hundreds of thousands who’ve needed to work beneath the desk, far too typically in harmful jobs that don’t pay residing wages as a result of the workers weren’t capable of work legally,” he added.
Adams mentioned immigrants helped by Biden’s government order on Tuesday are “our neighbors, group leaders, and fogeys.
“They’ve been in america for years, paying taxes and enriching the material of our nation,” he mentioned.
However the mayor mentioned that whereas President Biden’s government orders over the previous weeks will likely be “an amazing assist, the very fact stays that excessive Republicans in Congress have refused to go any type of complete immigration reform or applicable the funding that cities like New York want.
“The time for Congress to place politics apart and reform our immigration system is now,” he mentioned. “Tens of millions of immigrants, 1000’s of companies, and a nation constructed by those that got here to our shores able to work for a greater life demand it.”
Biden introduced on Tuesday that this new course of will assist sure noncitizen spouses and youngsters apply for lawful everlasting residence – “standing that they’re already eligible for – with out leaving the nation.”
“These actions will promote household unity and strengthen our economic system, offering a major profit to the nation and serving to US residents and their noncitizen members of the family keep collectively,” he mentioned.
To be eligible, Biden mentioned noncitizens will need to have resided in america for ten or extra years as of Jun. 17, 2024, be legally married to a US citizen, and fulfill all relevant authorized necessities.
He mentioned that, on common, those that are eligible for this course of have resided within the US for 23 years.
The president mentioned these authorized after the Division of Homeland Safety’s (DHS) case-by-case evaluation of their utility will likely be afforded three years to use for everlasting residency.
“They are going to be allowed to stay with their households in america and be eligible for work authorization for as much as three years,” Biden mentioned. “It will apply to all married {couples} who’re eligible.”
He mentioned this motion will defend about half one million spouses of US residents and about 50,000 noncitizen youngsters beneath 21 whose dad or mum is married to a US citizen.
Biden mentioned the brand new coverage will enable immigrants, together with DACA recipients and different Dreamers, younger individuals who had been delivered to America as youngsters, who’ve earned a level at an accredited US establishment of upper training, and who’ve acquired a suggestion of Employment from a US employer in a area associated to their diploma, to acquire work visas extra shortly.
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