NYC Gazette

Calls on Public and Private Universities in New York City to Audit Available Space for Migrants 

Requests Help with Pro Bono Legal Assistance for Migrant Families 

More than 65,000 Asylum Seekers Have Arrived in New York 

Read the Letter Here

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today pressed public and private universities in New York City to audit campus space that would be suitable for migrant shelter. The letter urges the leaders of City colleges and universities to work cooperatively with local, state, and federal leaders to help provide housing for asylum seekers, and to conduct an audit of available space on their campuses that may be suitable to provide shelter for new arrivals. The letter was sent to State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr., City University of New York Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, New York University President Andrew Hamilton, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (on behalf of NYC Colleges and Universities). The letter was joined by Congressman Jamaal Bowman (NY-16). 

The members said, “During the summer, many of your institutions have empty dorm rooms, student apartments, and other potentially appropriate places for shelter that can serve as much-needed temporary housing for migrants. We also ask for your help as we work with local leaders to provide food assistance and other necessities as well as pro bono legal assistance to migrant families arriving in New York.” 

“As more families continue to arrive in New York, it is critical that all sectors of our society, including the private sector and institutions of higher education, also support the City’s commitment to providing these basic necessities to migrant families,” the members continued. 

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to ensuring that the United States remains safe and welcoming for immigrants from various walks of life. 

Congressman Dan Goldman recently called on FEMA to increase their emergency allotment of $30.5 million to provide food, medical care, and support to incoming migrants. New York has spent over $1 billion in the care of over 60,000 new migrants. 

Last month, Congressman Dan Goldman and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) led a group of 25 Representatives in calling for $800 million in funding for the newly established Shelter and Services Program (SSP) in the FY24 federal budget. 

Congressman Goldman has also urged the Biden Administration maintain their commitment to not pursue Trump-era family detention policy. 

The Congressman has also led the fight to protect unaccompanied migrant children from child labor exploitation and ensure that they have the resources needed to navigate the immigration system through the creation of a children’s docket. 

Read the letter here or below: 

 

Dear Chancellor King, Chancellor Rodríguez, President Hamilton, and New York City College Presidents:  

As the home of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, we are proud that New York has welcomed migrants with the dignity and respect afforded to many of our families who arrived here from other countries. We write to urge you as the leaders of City colleges and universities to work cooperatively with local, state, and federal leaders to help provide housing for asylum seekers, and to conduct an audit of available space on your campuses that may be suitable to provide shelter for new arrivals. During the summer, many of your institutions have empty dorm rooms, student apartments, and other potentially appropriate places for shelter that can serve as much-needed temporary housing for migrants. We also ask for your help as we work with local leaders to provide food assistance and other necessities as well as pro bono legal assistance to migrant families arriving in New York.     

As you know, more than 65,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York, many after having experienced dangerous and traumatizing journeys in search of refuge. New York City has mobilized to provide these families shelter by opening at least 140 emergency shelters and nine large-scale humanitarian relief centers. The City is utilizing more than 150 sites, the vast majority being midsized hotels, to shelter more than 41,000 asylum seekers currently in the city's care.   

In addition, the Roosevelt Hotel is now being converted to an emergency migrant shelter and twenty school gyms are being considered for temporary housing. Every day New Yorkers and nonprofits are working to ensure that migrant families arriving in New York have shelter, food, clothing, access to legal services, and health care. As more families continue to arrive in New York, it is critical that all sectors of our society, including the private sector and institutions of higher education, also support the City’s commitment to providing these basic necessities to migrant families. Reports indicate that New York State is considering SUNY campuses as a place to temporarily house families.   

Many of your institutions also have prestigious law schools, medical facilities, and admit students who are committed to public service. We encourage you to develop programs that incentivize and support faculty and students to volunteer their time and talent to serve asylum seekers and their children. State governors such as Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Texas’ Greg Abbott would like us to turn against each other and embrace anti-immigrant sentiments. We must show the rest of the country that when all sectors of our society come together, we can live up to our highest values and ideals as we welcome new immigrants to our community.

Original source can be found here.