PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Magdalena Barbosa, Director of Legal Services at Catholic Migration Services
5:20:23
·
3 min
Magdalena Barbosa provided testimony on behalf of Catholic Migration Services, highlighting the negative impacts of the 30/60 day shelter rules on newly arrived immigrants. She emphasized the challenges faced by immigrants due to these rules, including safety concerns, communication difficulties, and obstacles to obtaining work authorization.
- Catholic Migration Services has direct contact with thousands of newly arrived immigrants through the Pro Se Plus project.
- The 30/60 day shelter rules have led to fear about personal safety, homelessness, and vulnerability to attacks and robbery.
- Language barriers and instability caused by the shelter rules interfere with immigrants' ability to obtain work authorization and maintain employment.
Magdalena Barbosa
5:20:23
Hi, honorable chairs.
5:20:24
My name is Magdalena Barbosa.
5:20:26
I'm the director of legal services at Catholic Migration Services.
5:20:29
I thank you so much for this opportunity to provide testimony.
5:20:33
Catholic Migration Services provides free legal services and information to low income New Yorker residents in 3 main areas, immigration, workers' rights, and housing.
5:20:43
For the past 2 years, Catholic Migration Services has been a member of the Pro Se Plus project, which is a collaborative of non profit immigration legal services agencies and community based organizations that provide legal orientation, screening, legal advice, and Pro Se assistance with applications for asylum, temporary protected status, work permits, and a variety of immigration court motions to immigrants who have not been able to find legal representation.
5:21:12
Through PSPP, we have had direct contact with thousands of newly arrived immigrants over the last 2 years, many of whom have been or are still in or who are still shelter residents and have been or are being negatively impacted by the 30 60 day shelter rules.
5:21:30
We have seen fear about personal safety when individuals and families have been ordered to evacuate from shelters.
5:21:37
We've seen people who have had to sleep outside and in subway stations where they are vulnerable to robbery, verbal harassment, and physical attacks, When they have to pack all of their belongings and lug them around in public transportation and through city streets from one borough to another, they do so in fear of their property, including very important information for their immigration for their immigration cases.
5:22:03
2nd, being homeless is particularly hard on immigrants who speak languages other than English and Spanish who find it hard to communicate with other New Yorkers or with law enforcement.
5:22:13
They wander the streets and public transportation hubs confused and unable to communicate.
5:22:19
The inability to communicate effectively when homeless, hungry, and without basic resources can complete normal encounters and even lead to arrests.
5:22:30
Even minor arrests that stem from misunderstandings aggravated by language barriers can have a negative impact on eligibility for legal immigration status.
5:22:40
Under the incoming administration, arrest will likely lead to deportation.
5:22:46
3rd, the 30 60 day shelter rules interfere with the ability of asylum seekers to obtain work authorization because they need a stable address to receive notices for fingerprints and later their physical work permits and social security cards.
5:23:01
For those who have been fortunate enough to have already received their work permits, life on the streets is not conducive to finding and keeping a new job.
5:23:10
Ideally, the city would provide stable housing until immigrants can work legally and save money to make other housing arrangements.
5:23:18
Access to language services and case management and shelters and to free immigration services would also help those who speak languages other than English or Spanish to get their bearings, understand our systems better, and realize they have rights.
Alexa Avilés
5:23:31
Elena, could you The lives
Magdalena Barbosa
5:23:32
in a shelter is simply not enough for someone who suffered persecution and endured dangerous journeys to begin to make the transition to life in the United States, let alone navigate our complex integration system.
Alexa Avilés
5:23:44
Magdalena, could you could you wrap up your testimony as we have others?
5:23:50
Oh, sure.
5:23:50
Yes.
Magdalena Barbosa
5:23:51
I I think I'm just about done.
5:23:53
Thank you so much for the opportunity to provide testimony this afternoon.
