New state efforts to address the asylum seeker and migrant influx in New York have been announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul. This follows an announcement from White House officials that individuals from Venezuela, who have resided in the United States on or before July 21, 2023, will be eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status.
“Work authorization is the way out of the migrant crisis,” Hochul said in a press release. “Individuals who achieve legal work status will be able to exit the shelter system, find work opportunities and get their shot at the American Dream. This announcement from the White House is a critical step, putting these individuals on the path to legal status that comes with work authorization. President Biden has once again delivered for New Yorkers, and we're grateful to Majority Leader Schumer, Leader Jeffries, Senator Gillibrand, Mayor Adams, Democratic members of the New York Congressional Delegation, and business and labor leaders who supported this effort.”
President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security announced the redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for certain individuals from Venezuela. Under federal law, individuals subject to TPS can be legally authorized to work 30 days after filing their application, while other new arrivals are subject to a 180-day waiting period.
Hochul has directed the New York State Department of Labor to connect employers with newly-eligible asylum seekers and migrants who are on the path to receiving work authorizations. More than 70 state personnel, representing 16 separate State agencies, have been surged to assist in this work authorization effort.
New York is in the midst of a “Month of Action” where more than 50 personnel from the federal Department of Homeland Security are in New York working to process work authorization paperwork.
This builds on an additional $20 million allocated to help New York City with a casework surge through NYC Health + Hospitals, as well as $10 million for migrant legal services allocated in the FY24 Budget.
