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.
Immigrant Advocates Condemn Flyers Discouraging Asylum Seekers From Coming To New York City
New York, NY—Yesterday, Mayor Adams’ administration announced that it plans to distribute new flyers at the United States southern border, in addition to shelters and intake shelters to discourage asylum seekers from coming to New York City. This marks the second time the Adams administration has produced flyers on the same matter and blatantly distributed misinformation.
Immigrant Advocates Denounce Time Limit for Asylum Seeker Families on Hotel Stays
New York, NY— Today, it was reported that New York City has placed some asylum-seeking families with children under 28-day stays in hotels over the past three months. After this initial period, these families must reenter the city’s arrival system at the Roosevelt Hotel to receive another housing placement, if available.
Immigrant Advocates Denounce City’s New Roadblocks to Shelter
New York, NY—Today, the Adams administration announced that single adult men asylum seekers who apply for the first time, or who reapply for shelter after their previous 60-day limit, will have a 30-day limit for their shelter placement.
Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition:
“Staying in a shelter is nobody’s idea of home, but rather a necessity until unhoused individuals and families can get on their feet.
Immigrant Advocates Applaud TPS Re-Designation and Extension for Afghans
New York, NY—Today, the Biden administration announced it would extend and re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans who arrived in the United States before September 20, 2023. They will be eligible for TPS for a period of 18 months, from November 21, 2023, to May 20, 2025. Current TPS Afghan holders, whose status was set to expire on November 20, 2023, must re-register between September 25, 2023 and November 24, 2023 to maintain their status and work authorization.
Immigrant Advocates Applaud TPS Re-Designation for Venezuelans, Granting Newest NYers Immigration Relief & Work Authorization
New York, NY—Today, the Biden administration announced it will be extending and re-designating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans who arrived in the United States before July 31, 2023.
Temporary Protected Status is a temporary immigration status granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to individuals who are unable to return home safely due civil war, natural disaster, or other conditions or circumstances preventing their return to their home country.
NYIC and Freedom Agenda Call for Permanent Closure of The Boat and the Rikers Island Jails
New York, NY—Gothamist first reported last week that the Department of Correction will close the Vernon C. Bain Center (aka The Boat) in October, an 800-bed floating jail docked in Hunts Point in the Bronx. In response, the New York City Immigration Coalition and Freedom Agenda released the following statements.