2023-09-21 23:35:00
(CNN) — New York Mayor Eric Adams is concerned that the majority of asylum seekers in the city’s care will not be able to benefit from the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which the government announced. Biden this Wednesday and seeks to partially expedite work authorizations for Venezuelan migrants.
“We have approximately 60,000 asylum seekers in our care, three-quarters of them are not eligible for the announcement that was made,” Adams explained at a press conference Thursday followingnoon. “We have approximately 15,000 who are eligible,” the mayor explained.
The number Adams mentions is dwarfed by the more than 116,000 asylum seekers who have been processed through New York City’s shelter system since last spring, with nearly 60,000 still in city care. Although those figures include migrants from other countries, New York Governor Kathy Hochul previously estimated that 41% are of Venezuelan nationality.
In its announcement, the Department of Homeland Security extended TPS for 18 months for Venezuelans residing in the US on or before July 31, 2023, allowing them to apply for work authorizations.
The timing condition will likely lead to many of the Venezuelan migrants who arrived in the city during the last wave –––at a rate of regarding 300 a day according to city statistics––– not being eligible for TPS and not even to request work permits through this legal means.
“That leaves us with a total of 9,500 of the 60,000 who are eligible to apply for work authorization,” said Adams, who asked to continue working with the White House to find new solutions.
According to Adams, he spoke with the White House on Wednesday night following the TPS announcement.
“I think the president is doing a great job on many issues in this country, my focus is the issue of migrant asylum is extremely hurtful and harmful to the city of New York. And I think last night’s decision is the starting point of what we can do.
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