Q&A
Asylum application help center's preparation for policy changes
2:07:31
ยท
112 sec
Council Member Alexa Aviles inquires about how the asylum application help center is preparing to adapt to potential policy changes, particularly regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applications. Molly Schaeffer from OASO explains their current focus and future plans.
- The center is prioritizing asylum and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) applications
- They are still assisting with TPS and work authorization applications, but with lower priority
- The center is prepared to adapt to new immigration relief options as they become available
Alexa Aviles
2:07:31
I'm glad to hear you follow the law.
2:07:33
But I think we share the opinion that everyone deserves due process.
2:07:38
Is that correct?
2:07:39
I shouldn't even be asking this question, quite frankly.
2:07:42
But I just want to be sure, since there have been such a strange, contradictory messages.
2:07:48
Okay.
2:07:48
I think, I'm gonna ask, Owasso a couple of questions.
2:07:53
You've been patiently awaiting, a spotlight, and then I will turn it over to council member Krishnan.
2:07:59
So in terms of, reporting suggests that the incoming administration, we just talked about the TPS.
2:08:09
Can you, in that guise, can you talk to us about how the asylum application help center is preparing to pivot, the applications from TPS to others?
2:08:22
I think you just started actually talking about that.
Molly Schaeffer
2:08:24
Yeah.
2:08:25
I think we're we're obviously in consultation with advocates and lawyers about what makes the most sense.
2:08:31
I think at this point, we are still going to focus on the redesignations.
2:08:36
So we we obviously just got the redesignations, but we're really, really focused in the coming months, on asylum and SIDGE, and really because we know that that is, less precarious, at this current moment, but we're still going to help people who need CPS or work authorization.
2:08:53
We're just gonna prioritize those 2 more.
2:08:57
And if there's other, immigration reliefs that come out that make it, that are sort of low, impact, we'll also focus on those as they come up.
Alexa Aviles
2:09:07
And and how is the the help center, I guess, preparing to engage in this communication with individuals about their options?
2:09:17
Like, are you proactively or do you have a plan to proactively reach out, and how you will be triaging them?
Molly Schaeffer
2:09:23
We have been proactively using the data that we collect on a central level.