Last week, the New York State Comptroller published an audit report on Language Services at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), covering October 2020 through April 2023. The report found that State and county DMV offices were consistently failing to live up to the statewide language access policy by not offering adequate interpretation services, including sometimes not using the Language Line at all, having extremely long hold times for the Language Line, and not properly tracking interpretation data.
Adams Again Attacks Right-to-Shelter, Endangering Child Asylum Seekers
New York, NY—Today, Mayor Eric Adams announced that asylum seeker families with children will be limited to 60 day stays in shelters, after which they will need to reapply for a new placement. The administration also announced that some families would be placed in congregate settings.
New Shelter Limits for Asylum Seeker Families Will Put Kids on the Street
New York, NY—Today, it was reported that Mayor Eric Adams will announce that asylum seeker families with children will be limited to 60 day stays in shelters, after which they will need to reapply for a new placement.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“New York’s right-to-shelter protections ensure that our City supports all people who need a roof over their heads while they get their lives on track.
NYC Legal Clinic Blitz Assists Nearly 2000 Asylum Seekers Obtain Work Permits
New York, NY—Between Monday 9/25/23 and run through Friday 10/6/23, the New York Immigration Coalition and Immigrant ARC, with support from American Immigration Lawyers Association, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and The Legal Aid Society, hosted a work permit clinic for asylum seekers living in New York City shelters.
Immigrant Advocates Welcome TPS Re-Designation and Extension for Cameroon, Demand More Action
New York, NY—Today, the Biden administration announced it would extend and re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonians who arrived in the United States before October 5, 2023. They will be eligible for TPS for a period of 18 months, from December 8, 2023, to June 7, 2025. Current TPS Cameroon holders must re-register during the 60-day period from October 10, 2023, through December 9, 2023, to maintain their status and work authorization.
Immigrant Advocates Denounce Biden’s Venezuela Deportation Flight Plan
New York, NY—Yesterday, the Biden administration announced its plan to conduct deportation flights to Venezuela. This announcement comes two weeks after the administration extended and redesignated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Nobody wants to leave their home if they don’t have to, let alone make a dangerous and grueling trek across the Darien Gap just to reach safety in the United States.
Immigrant Advocates Urge Agencies To Expand Language Access For Life-Saving Emergency Alerts
New York, NY—Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission conducted a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. During this testing period, individuals received text alerts on their cellular devices in English or Spanish.
Adams’ Xenophobic Attacks on Right to Shelter Hurt Vulnerable and Immigrant NYers
New York, NY—Yesterday, the Adams administration submitted a revised court filing seeking to suspend Right to Shelter protections during states of emergencies for both asylum seekers and longer-term shelter residents.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“New York City’s Right to Shelter laws are an essential component of how our city cares for our most vulnerable populations and ensures the health and safety of every unhoused family or individual.
Immigrant Advocates to Adams: Focus on NYC
New York, NY—Today, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced that he will embark on a four-day trip to Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia, including the Darién Gap, in order to learn about the journeys of asylum seekers to the United States.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“It’s outrageous that Mayor Adams has slashed the budget of nearly every City agency, with plans for additional cuts, while scapegoating immigrants for his own mismanagement of the City’s funds – and now is needlessly spending taxpayer dollars on a pointless international trip.
Immigrant Advocates Applaud The Passage of Stopgap Funding Bill That Excludes Extremist Immigration Policies
New York, NY—On the brink of a federal government shutdown, the House and Senate on Saturday swiftly approved and passed a 45-day stopgap funding bill to keep federal agencies open.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Yesterday, both Houses stood strong in support of a national agenda that rejected the extremist policies of a small faction of MAGA Republicans who tried to hold our country hostage for their own political gain.