John, 
When I look back at the NYIC’s work this past year, I’ve never been prouder to be a part of this community of fierce immigrant rights advocates. In the first half of the year, we delivered at the state level an expansion of Medicaid for our seniors and postpartum mothers, the first increase in legal services funding, and the creation of New York State's first ever office of language access. In New York City, we championed language access and secured millions for co-ops and interrupter banks, maintained legal services, and expanded educational opportunities for older immigrant youth. In Columbia County, we worked with our members to get a diversity policy enacted. In Erie County, we introduced the 1st ever language access county bill in the state. 

Our mission to empower and protect immigrant New Yorkers rang truer than ever when we spent the latter half of the year welcoming over 30,000 asylum seekers to New York City. Since the summer, we watched our entire community rally together on a moment’s notice to welcome asylum seekers bussed here from the United States/Mexico border. Republican leaders like Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis built their campaigns on the grim assumption that the asylum seekers would be met with apathy, disgust, and cruelty  — but their stunt backfired. They completely underestimated the heart and compassion of New Yorkers. 

In a few months time, we successfully advocated for $3 million in legal services funding from the state as well as $7M for navigation centers, $5M for emergency legal services and $12 million from New York City for our schools to help asylum seekers build new lives here. We also prepared 10,000 dignity bags and coordinated the distribution of personal items to asylum seekers who arrived with nothing more than the clothes on their backs at the Port Authority. We collaborated with members and partners on clothing and food drives, and continue to provide critical health and legal services via our Key to the City events throughout the five boroughs. Underlining this work is our advocacy efforts on the city, state and federal levels demanding that our governments do more to ensure that asylum seekers have what they need to acclimate into and thrive in New York. 

This, to me, is the New York I know and believe in: one where neighbors are ready and willing to lend a helping hand at a moment's notice.  Thank you for believing in our mission and for ensuring that no matter how long someone has been in New York — whether it’s a few days or a few decades — we will always choose to welcome them here. 

Join us to continue to power our movement and fight for our communities. 

¡Sí se puede!

Murad Awawdeh
Executive Director