The number of migrant children arriving in the U.S. from Central America has reached crisis levels in recent months. And thousands of those kids are ending up in New York. That’s why the State Assembly held a hearing Tuesday, where city officials detailed what action they’re taking. Lindsey Christ filed the following report.
Of the thousands of young people who’ve been arriving unaccompanied from Central America, more than 4,200 came to New York State from January to July. More than 1,300 have come to the city.
So now, the de Blasio administration is reaching out to them directly.
“We have begun this unprecedented program in recognition of the immense challenges these children and their families face,” said Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs Nisha Argarwal.
Do you support the use of tax dollars toward dealing with this issue? If not, what suggestions do you have to address the influx of unaccompanied children? Read New Yorkers’ thoughts.
Federal immigration court has been holding special daily sessions to try to deal with the flood of migrants.
Now, representatives from the Health and Education departments are stationed at the court to try to get those kids into school, and connect them with health care.
And that’s only the beginning.
“We will soon be launching school-based clinics to provide services directly to these children at schools identified as having a large number of newly arrived immigrant youth,” said Argarwal.
So far this year, most of the children have come to Queens, followed by Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Lawmakers say unlike some other parts of the country New York is actively trying to welcome child migrants.
“As a state we have been pioneers when it’s come to opening doors of opportunities for immigrant communities, historically that has been the case in the state of New York and we want to continue that tradition,” said Assemblyman Marcos Crespo of the Bronx.
Legal advocates testified that up to 80 percent of the children have valid claims to asylum or other relief.
So city officials say it makes sense to help them.
City says the supports it’s providing will not use any resources that don’t already exist and requires no additional funding. But many of those who testified said there is a great need for more legal aid, and that’s where the state could really step in and help.
“It is very hard for them to address the traumas that they have lived through and their mental health issues when they’re going to court in two weeks and nobody’s going to be there to represent them,” Eve Stotland, director of legal services, The Door.
But the goal is that eventually these kids will be able to focus on just being kids.
http://ift.tt/1u5DR0i
via Great Local News: New York http://ift.tt/1iZiLP1
No comments:
Post a Comment