NYSCOC 2023 Immigration Rights Priorities for New York State
View the Immigration Seminar from our 2022 virtual NYS Ecumenical and Interfaith Advocacy Day.
SCAR Act
Health Care for Immigrants
Access to Driver’s Licenses (Green Light Law)
Excluded Worker Fund:
The 2021 legislature approved approximately 2 billion dollars for the excluded worker fund. The state is now in the process of distributing the money which has been challenging depending on a person’s circumstance or in parts of the state which are not as efficiently equipped to distribute this kind of aid.
Implementation of the program has been uneven as reported here in the Albany Times Union. The fund is quickly being exhausted, click here for more information and to apply.
Assistance in Afghanistan Immigrants and Refugees
In Afghanistan, the United States evacuated, with the help of the military, evacuated American personnel and Afghans who assisted the American cause. Now that United States military has left, there is still in Afghanistan a humanitarian crisis and private groups are still working to continue evacuation. New York State Council of Churches held a state forum with Lauren Homer who described the situation. https://youtu.be/MKzUHgHUt4g
Continued advocacy with the Biden administration is required and here is a letter which was sent to him on outlining further steps to be taken.
We are now working with Church World Service who is organizing a list of organizations by region in New York with whom congregations can work to resettle Afghan refugees.
New York Immigration Coalition describes other initiatives to advocate for immigrants. https://www.nyic.org/our-work/immigrant-rights/
Status of Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA)
85 Chestnut Street
Albany, New York 12210
Phone:
Email:
