In the United States, millions of people celebrate the arrival of the new aid package and the third stimulus check. However, many others were left out again: the migrant community with irregular status. For this reason, various organizations are demonstrating throughout the world. New York to demand the approval of a relief fund for undocumented workers.
Diana Sánchez Hernández is a member of one of these organizations: the Yonkers Shrine Movement, led by young people. dreamers. In an interview with Migrant Connection, Diana Sánchez spoke about the Excluded Workers Fund, which would provide financial support to thousands of undocumented migrants in New York.
What is the Excluded Workers Fund?
What the Yonkers Sanctuary Movement is demanding along with other organizations is that a $ 3.5 billion fund be approved. This money would be used to provide financial support to undocumented workers through unemployment benefits.
Part of the fund would also go to support undocumented migrants recently released from prison. According to Diana Sánchez, many of them are made to work and paid a dollar a day or even less.
In general, it would seek to extend the benefits of the Fund for Excluded Workers to the entire undocumented community of New York.
A year ago (which was when the movement started), the fund was asked to be $ 4.6 trillion. In addition, since then, the organizations have been on calls and in meetings with New York elected officials.
However, the latter do not accept the amount of $ 4.6 billion. Even so, says Diana Sánchez, they have shown willingness to accept a lower amount such as the $ 3.5 billion currently required.
This bill needs to be ready by April 1 at the New York officials’ table. And that day the Senate and the Assembly will have a budget ready to decide which laws will be voted on this year. That is why various organizations across the state are beginning to put pressure.
However, it is also important that people call their representatives, senators, and assembly members to ask for approval of the $ 3.5 trillion dollar bill for excluded workers.
The whole state mobilizes
Currently, the Yonkers Shrine Movement is fighting shoulder to shoulder with organizations such as Yonkers United Workers, United Comunity Center of Westchester, Don Bosco, New York Immigration Coalition, among many others.
In the spring of last year, some of these organizations closed the Cuomo Bridge to demand a $ 4.6 billion fund. They are now conducting a hunger strike in Westchester County which will probably last until April.
In addition, they have closed the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge with the support of taxi workers. They also organized to hold a protest in front of the office of the Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, in Yonkers. This senator has the power to decide which bills will be voted on in the Senate this year.
Although the number requested is lower, the objective is the same: to help a community that has sustained the economy of the United States and Mexico during the pandemic.
“I have seen many people go without food to support their family here in New York. Also to send money to their relatives in Mexico. Even so, they don’t have support from here or there, ”says Diana Sánchez.
He also declares that this is outrageous in a state like New York, which is compared to many of the richest regions in the world. “We have around 120 millionaires who have gotten richer since the pandemic started. But our undocumented community was not given any relief, ”says Diana.
Meanwhile, he adds, the deportations continue. In many cases, the expulsion of a person leaves an entire family without income.
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