NEW YORK, CMC – Immigration advocates on Friday welcomed New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s call on United States President Joe Biden to take executive action and direct additional federal resources to the State of New York as it manages the unprecedented influx of Caribbean and other asylum seekers arriving in New York.

Many of the asylum seekers arriving in New York from the southern borders of the United States are nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

New York immigrant advocates and unions recently sent a letter to US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling for the designation, redesignation, renewal and expedition of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Caribbean and other asylum seekers.

READ: NY Governor says efforts ongoing to shelter, support Caribbean asylum seekers

“From the moment that asylum seekers began arriving in New York, they have told us they want to get to work and provide for their families. Expediting work authorisations for recent arrivals would get them on the path to self-sufficiency, and would allow them to contribute to New York’s economy in the same way that immigrants have for centuries,” Mayorkas said.

Murad Awawdeh, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella organisation of over 200 immigrant advocacy groups in New York State, spoke to the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Friday.

“The Biden administration can no longer be absent on issues that demand federal coordination,” he said. “We stand with Governor Kathy Hochul in her call for President Biden to designate, redesignate, and renew TPS and expedite work authorizations for our newest New Yorkers.

“We also support her call for more resources and assistance for asylum seekers,” Awawdeh added. “The federal government can no longer phone it in. We demand action now.”

Make the Road New York, another immigrant advocacy group, supports Hochul’s initiative.

“We agree with Governor Hochul’s call on the Biden Administration to expedite work authorisations for asylum seekers and provide financial resources for social services, amongst other needed support,” said Deputy Director Natalia Aristizabal.

“That said, it is of utmost importance that our governor is at the forefront providing decisive leadership and not solely relying on our federal government to take action,” she stated. “The state must take the reins of the situation as well, and put together a plan that immediately secures new shelter locations,” she added.

Aristizabal said this can be done by taking executive action and overruling county-level orders designed to keep asylum seekers barred from entering certain towns.

Additionally, she urged Hochul to provide assistance with coordinating relocations and identifying state-owned facilities that can serve as temporary housing.

“This is a humanitarian crisis,” Aristizabal stressed. “New York State cannot remain crossed armed waiting for President Biden to take action. We urge the governor to use her executive and other powers to provide prompt solutions.”

In a formal request sent to the White House, Hochul outlined specific, outstanding requests, including expedited work authorisations for asylum seekers, financial assistance for New York City and New York State, the use of federal land and facilities for temporary shelter sites, and Title 32 designation to provide federal funding for the nearly 2,000 New York National Guard members currently providing logistical and operational support across New York State.