Albany, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed an additional 150 members of the New York National Guard on Monday to support the ongoing response to the migrant crisis impacting the state.
The new deployment will allow the state to be able to assign 250 National Guard personnel the full-time responsibilities of case management professionals. The deployment, along with the $50 million allotted for case management thus far, will assist migrants in filing the appropriate paperwork to attain legal work status and exit taxpayer-funded shelters.
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“It is critical that we help secure work authorization for asylum seekers and migrants in New York,” Gov. Hochul said. “We need to ensure individuals can navigate the paperwork necessary to get them established here so they can work and start making their American Dream a reality. Our National Guard members play a huge role in assisting in the process and we are grateful for their service.”
Hochul announced the deployment of an additional 150 New York National Guard personnel and assets to migrant sites in New York City. This deployment builds on the 1,900 National Guard personnel who are currently providing logistical and operational support to asylum seekers statewide. New York National Guard personnel are currently staffing 51 hotels and two New York City Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers.
A limited number of National Guard troops are also assisting with security and logistics at hotels in Erie County housing migrant population.
In addition to the New York National Guard, Gov. Hochul has directed other state resources to help Venezuelans and other asylum seekers and migrants submit the appropriate paperwork to speedily receive legal work status.
Working in partnership with federal and city officials, New York is in the midst of a “Month of Action” where more than 50 personnel from the federal Department of Homeland Security are in New York working to process work authorization paperwork.
Earlier this month, White House officials announced certain individuals from Venezuela, who have continuously resided in the United States on or before July 31, 2023, will be eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status. The announcement followed pressure from Hochul and a broad coalition of New Yorkers working to secure work authorization for asylum seekers and migrants, allowing them to exit the shelter system and begin living independently.
Hochul has identified work authorization as the key factor to end this crisis. She raised this issue with senior Administration officials during her meeting at the White House three weeks ago, reiterating a request she made in a letter to President Biden earlier that month.