By Forum Staff
Mayor Eric Adams on Friday announced additional policies to help asylum seekers in the City’s care take the next steps in their journeys.
According to Hizzoner, the City “has made every effort” to continue serving the more than 116,000 asylum seekers who have arrived in the five boroughs since last spring. However, with an average of between 300 and 500 people still arriving in the five boroughs asking for shelter each day, and more than 60,000 migrants currently in the City’s care, the Big Apple is full — having responded without all the substantial State or federal support needed to manage a national crisis. Over the past two months, the City has distributed approximately 13,000 60-day notices to adult asylum seekers with intensified casework services to help these individuals reach their final destination and transition to alternate housing.
As the City still seeks further and timely support from federal and State partners, adult asylum seekers who have not secured alternative housing after their current 60-day notice has expired, and who subsequently return to the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center, will receive a placement with an additional 30-day notice coupled with further intensified casework services. Additionally, beginning today, all adult asylum seekers applying for shelter at the arrival center for the first time will receive a 30-day notice paired with intensified casework services. Each asylum seeker given notice will have touchpoints with case workers over their 30 days to discuss their options and plan their next steps.
Since the humanitarian crisis began, the City has opened 210 emergency shelters, including 17 total large-scale humanitarian relief centers; enrolled thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms; and launched the Asylum Application Help Center to help thousands of migrants with their asylum applications. Earlier this spring, the City released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the City will manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and State partners.
“For over a year, New York City has stepped up while waiting for the substantial help necessary from federal and state partners to comprehensively address this crisis and support the tens of thousands of asylum seekers in our care, and today’s announcement is another step in our efforts to help asylum seekers take the next step in their journeys,” said Adams. “We appreciate the support we have received so far from our state and federal partners, but with more than 60,000 asylum seekers still in our care and without additional help, we will be forced to continue making difficult decisions.”
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom added, “For more than a year, New York City has acted to respond to what is a global humanitarian crisis,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “We have now reached a point where we are full and must take action to move people seeking asylum more quickly through our shelter system. The accelerated pace of stay in our shelter system will be paired with intensive case management to help people seeking asylum speed up their ability to achieve independence.”
