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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 | The Indian Eye 22

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar

Introduces State Legislative Package to

Address New York City’s Migrant Influx

Rajkumar Authors Second Bill Creating A Statewide Coordinator Of Migrant Response

OUR BUREAU

South Queens, NY
n response to the unprecedented
influx of migrants to New York
ICity, Assemblywoman Jenifer
Rajkumar (D-AD 38) has introduced
a package of bills that will ensure New
York State does its part to help New
York City manage one of the greatest
humanitarian crises it has ever faced.
The Assemblywoman introduced
A7992, which will pave the way for
the State to coordinate a State-wide
response to the asylum seeker crisis
that enlists counties across the State.
Specifically, the bill prohibits any mu-
nicipality from refusing resettlement
of asylum seekers, provided that the
resettling municipality bears the cost
of shelter. The bill comes in response
to the ongoing legal battle between
New York City and 30 counties in the
State. To relieve financial and logisti-
cal challenges, the City has resettled
some asylum seekers in other coun-
ties. The City has resettled less than
1% of asylum seekers in its custody,
and continues to bear the full cost of
shelter, yet 30 counties have taken
executive action to prohibit resettle- asylum seeker crisis that enlists coun- led a city-wide coalition of 54 elected continuing to be a strong economic
ment based on specious arguments of ties across the State. officials from all 5 boroughs to call on engine.”
public safety. Assemblywoman Rajkumar has President Biden to support New York. New York City has welcomed
Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s bill also introduced a second bill A7493, One of the coalition’s 4 requests was over 100,000 asylum seekers since
is a clarification of existing law: re- that will create a Statewide Coor- that the President declare a State of April 2022. Today, New York City is
settlement prohibitions are in clear dinator of Asylum Seeker Services. Emergency for New York State, but providing shelter to over 50,000 asy-
violation of the New York State So- This Coordinator would lead a State that request has gone unanswered. lum seekers, at a cost of over $1 bil-
cial Services Law, the New York State response to the asylum seeker cri- Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, lion, and projected to be $12 billion
Human Rights Law, Title II of the sis, overseeing intake, resettlement, “It is time for New York State to lead by June 2025. In response, the State
Civil Rights Act, the Equal Protection support services, health care, hous- a Statewide response as New York budgeted $1 billion over two years to
Clause of the United States Consti- ing, education, and legal services for City faces one of the greatest human- reimburse the City. The federal gov-
tution, and the constitutional right to the new arrivals. The coordinator itarian crises in its history. My legisla- ernment provided a grant of $100 mil-
travel. New York City filed suit nam- would ensure that migrants are eq- tive package sets up this Statewide re- lion—the equivalent of 13 days’ worth
ing all 30 counties to overturn the uitably distributed throughout the sponse. The new State Coordinator of of expenses to shelter migrants.
prohibitions, resulting in a judgment State, relieving the pressure on New Asylum Seeker Services will bring the The asylum seekers have a right
that the City must file a separate suit York City. The Coordinator would State’s leadership and organization to to legally remain in the country while
against each county in their respec- also lobby the federal government help manage the City’s migrant influx. applying for asylum, and New York
tive jurisdictions. The Assemblywom- for legislation and policies to address My bill preventing counties from re- City is legally obligated to provide
an’s bill will preclude a tortuous legal the influx. The Coordinator would fusing migrants meets this moment; shelter under a consent decree in
process that would reach a foregone be jointly appointed by the Governor the State must enlist all its counties to the case of Callahan v. Carey. Com-
conclusion. Most importantly, the bill of New York State and the Mayor of help New York City shelter migrants, pounding the issue further is that asy-
will pave the way for the State to co- New York City. because the strength of our entire lum seekers cannot legally work for a
ordinate a State-wide response to the Last month, the Assemblywoman State depends on New York City minimum of six months.

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