The organizations that represent them and the migrants themselves joined more than a dozen elected officials who showed up at the municipal building to ask for more support to provide services to the thousands of asylum seekers who have arrived in the five boroughs.
Janeth Rodríguez told us that she understands that the problem is vast, but that it touches her heart to hear stories of migrants crossing the jungle and innumerable dangers just to wait their turn and the decision of an immigration officer.
“The things that they are experiencing, especially in Venezuela and in many other countries, I think it seems very good that they support these immigrants who come, although it is difficult because there are so many people. But at least for a few years they support them and give them a work permit so that later they can return to their countries and make their lives better,” said Rodríguez, a Mexican immigrant.
Ombudsman Jumanee Williams, city council members and the Brooklyn Borough President were in attendance.
“New York is the state that is positioned with the most resources to help people who are coming from Texas or from any country,” said Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn Borough President.. “The problem we have is that the resources from the federal government and the state government are not coming in for 400,000 people who are waiting to get to New York. The resources we have in the city are not enough.”
Councilwoman Carlina Rivera pointed out that the 6 million dollars sent to the five counties by the federal government are insufficient.
In his estimate, the city needs a billion dollars to address the immigration crisis of asylum seekers, and he echoed that welcoming them is a historic and fundamental duty of New Yorkers. Because there is no “us” and “them”.
“Those are the values of New York and of the United States. We have to treat every family that comes here for an opportunity with dignity and with respect, so we have to seek and fight for the necessary resources and also tell them that everyone has a right to be here,” Rivera said.
For his part, President Biden has announced a plan through which average Americans can sponsor people who are seeking refuge in the United States so that they can regularize their status and also have a home.
