Mayor’s Office Of Immigrant Affairs Delivers Key Resources To Immigrant Communities

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Mayor's Office Of Immigrant Affairs Delivers Key Resources To Immigrant Communities

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2023

Contact: Shaina Coronel, scoronel@cityhall.nyc.gov, 646-385-0334

New York – New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro today released a list of key wins for immigrant New Yorkers. A comprehensive list of accomplishments and services delivered for the immigrant community will be released in MOIA's 2023 Report on the City's Immigrant Population and Office Initiatives.

"This year, our office continued to work alongside city agencies, faith-based institutions and community partners to meet the needs of the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis, while still serving long time immigrant New Yorkers," said MOIA Commissioner Manuel Castro. "I am proud to serve our immigrant communities and we will lead to fight for the rights and supports that immigrant New Yorkers need."

MOIA delivered key resources to immigrant communities, including:

Releasing Informational Videos to Assist Asylum Seekers Navigate the Federal Immigration Process: In response to more than 150,000 migrants arriving to New York City, MOIA created informational videos to assist asylum seekers when navigating the federal immigration process. The instructional videos covered topics such as: "ice check-ins, immigration documents, and going to court."

Creating the Asylum Seeker Legal Assistance Network: In the absence of a national strategy to support asylum seekers with their legal needs as they enter the country, MOIA launched the Asylum Seeker Legal Assistance Network (ASLAN), a $5 million investment to expand non-profit organizations' capacity to provide immigration legal assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers. Through this network the contracted partners provided a combination of orientation sessions, legal screenings, application assistance, pro se assistance clinics, self-help materials, and other services.

Funding the Asylum Seeker Resource Satellite Sites: To continue to support asylum seekers with in-person social service, MOIA extended funding to the asylum seeker resources satellite sites. The satellite sites are in all five boroughs and provided services including job readiness training, comprehensive case management, and immigrant rights workshops in multiple languages.

Funding the Haitian Response Initiative: To continue to support Haitian community members, MOIA extended $1.3 million in funding to the Haitian Response Initiative. The Haitian Response Initiative consists of seven Haitian-led nonprofit organizations rooted in the Haitian community that provide community members with social and support services, and a Citywide immigration legal service provider that provides legal assistance to community members and capacity building trainings to CBOs.

Hosting a National Convening to Discuss the Asylum Seeker Response: MOIA hosted a national convening of over 23 cities to discuss how to advocate for additional federal support for the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis. Advocacy points included providing cities with more financial resources, expediting work authorizations for additional recent arrivals, and enacting a national decompression and resettlement strategy.

Unveiling Immigrant Heritage Plaza: Originally known as "Public Place" within Bowling Green Park, MOIA renamed the historic space "Immigrant Heritage Plaza." The plaza was renamed to honor all immigrants who built New York City, beginning with the first historically recorded immigrant who arrived, Juan Rodriguez. In addition to the receiving a commemorative plaque, the space will be used for immigrant related events.

Releasing an Immigrant Resource Road Map in Over 50 Languages: To ensure immigrant New Yorkers have information on city resources, MOIA released an immigrant resource road map in over 50 languages. The roadmap included a list of city resources and protected rights for all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status.

Hosting 35 Flag Raising Ceremonies: As the ultimate city of immigrants, MOIA along with the Mayor's Office of International Affairs and Community Affairs, hosted 35 flag raising ceremonies. The flag raising ceremonies included cultural celebrations for countries including Nepal, Mexico, Kenya, and much more.Kicking Off We Love Immigrant NYC Campaign: As part of our annual immigrant heritage celebration, MOIA launched the "We Love Immigrant NYC" campaign. The campaign aimed to highlight over 20 immigrant neighborhoods across the city.