Yonkers Congressman Jamaal Bowman joined other New York elected officials in calling for more support for migrants and refugees seeking asylum in the state.
In May 2023, the NYPD notified the Yonkers Police Department to prepare for asylum-seekers arriving from New York City. Migrants then soon arrived; taking residence in the Ramada Inn on Tuckahoe Road. The exact number and duration of their stay was ambiguous, leading Mayor Mike Spano to push back against this action. He said, “We’re willing to do our part, but we need a better plan. And the better plan here is any plan, because there is no plan.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer responded to the influx of migrants with a press conference. In it, he suggested various support mechanisms for the asylum-seekers including the creation of dedicated “field courts.” These courts specifically address migrants’ claims. Mayor Spano followed with his own press conference the following day, also calling for a holistic approach to address the needs of both children and adults. Both elected officials called on more funding to support their plans.
A call for aid
Funding would come from the federal government, and on Monday, many in the New York delegation actioned that need. In a letter to United States Customs and Immigration Services, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and six others requested the expansion of USCIS Support Centers in the state. These centers provide support like housing, food, and legal services to migrants.
Migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion, and that starts by providing them with wraparound services that meet their needs.
Jamaal Bowman – New York 16th Congressional District
These electeds assert that migrants deserve access to these vital services. And, that cities have stepped up to provide services for these incoming migrants. But, that the federal government must also provide additional relief. Bowman ultimately hopes that, “this letter will be one of many steps towards an immigration system that centers compassion, respect, and empathy for our migrant neighbors in New York and around the country.”
It is expected that the migrants currently in Yonkers will remain for upwards of a year. With border states like Texas continuing to offload incoming refugees to northern cities, more can be expected to arrive. It is the hope of our elected officials that the support for them also arrives in turn.
