For generations, New York City has thrived through successive waves of immigration. Irish, Italian, Jewish, Dominican, Chinese, Bangladeshi, and many more. Each wave faced prejudice and poverty. Each wave was called a “crisis.”  

But they quickly became the caregivers, laborers, small-business owners, chefs, artists, and leaders – they became the New Yorkers – of the next generation.    

Today, as Title 42 (the pandemic-era rule that the federal government has been using to turn back asylum seekers) expires, it’s time for our generation to face our moment of reckoning on immigration.  

We can face it with both compassion and common sense. With more support, more partnership, and more effective management, New York City can rise to this moment. 

It’s true, one thing is different now: This is the first time that large numbers of immigrants have sought shelter under New York’s “right to shelter.” There are already over 37,000 new arrivals in our shelter system. With Title 42 expiring, that number may well grow significantly.  

The City of New York cannot do this on our own – we need support that Washington has so far failed to deliver and that Albany has promised, but not yet provided enough. 

But that doesn’t mean New York City should step back from our obligations.

We don’t need to roll back longstanding “right to shelter” laws that protect children and families, as Mayor Adams ordered last night. And we shouldn’t.  

Instead, this is a time for partnership: the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless (who monitor the right to shelter), the New York Immigration Coalition, Masbia, our religious congregations, mutual aid groups – they’ve all stepped up, and are ready to do even more.  

We need leadership that unites us to meet this moment.  

One thing we can do – both compassionate and common-sense – is work together to help asylum seekers get on their feet and out of emergency shelter. 

So far, more than 99% of the City’s spending on asylum seekers has been for emergency shelter, and far less than 1% to the services that help them move out. By prioritizing legal services to help people file for asylum and register for work permits, we'll help them start new lives – and bring down long-term costs for the City overall. 

Unfortunately, Mayor Adams has failed to make this a priority.  

That’s why yesterday, Council Member Shahana Hanif and I sent a letter to the Mayor calling for a $70 million investment in legal services. This sum (a small fraction of what we are spending daily on emergency shelter) will help families get on their feet and ultimately help the City save significantly on the costs of operating shelters. 

Thanks to our victory last year, Promise NYC now provides childcare to hundreds of immigrant families – including new asylum seekers. We were joined by a mom whose kids are in the program. Her face beamed as she talked about how her kids are thriving at day care … and how it has enabled her to go to work. 

Unfortunately, like legal services for asylum seekers, the $20 million needed to continue Promise NYC is also missing from the Mayor’s budget proposal.  

In a budget of over $106 billion – and while we keep demanding that Washington and Albany pay their fair share – we can afford the $90 million to provide legal services and childcare that would enable these families to become the next generation of New Yorkers – just like so many have before. 

It’s a common sense and compassionate solution to save on long-term shelter costs, help new immigrant families thrive, and contribute to our city’s next great chapter. 

Brad