South Queens, NY - This week, Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-AD 38) introduced legislation granting work authorization to asylum seekers. Under her bill, anyone who has applied for asylum would be eligible to work in the State of New York. It will allow asylum seekers to be self-sufficient, lift the financial and logistical burden facing New York City, and bring much-needed talent to the workforce.

Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s bill ensures New York State does everything in its power to help New York City manage one of the greatest humanitarian crises it has ever faced. Over 110,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City eager to work but cannot for at least six months under federal law. Unable to earn a living, asylum seekers turn to New York City for shelter, at a cost projected to be $12 billion by 2025.

Her bill also addresses the labor shortage in New York State. There are 460,000 job openings in New York State, and over 120,000 fewer people in the labor force since 2019. Businesses throughout the State report difficulty finding employees and an eagerness to hire asylum seekers. The Assemblywoman’s bill will add all working age asylum seekers to the talent pool.

Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, “In the absence of Federal action to issue work permits, the State must lead and issue the work permits on its own. It is time for the State to take ownership over the migrant crisis. There are tens of thousands of asylum seekers asking to work, employers eager to hire them, and a wall of red tape coming between them. The time has come to tear down this wall of red tape and issue work permits to the asylum seekers. In so doing, we can end the migrant crisis.My bill is common sense: people legally allowed to live in our country should be able to work.”

Granting work authorization holds widespread support from people across the political spectrum. A Siena Poll found that 59% of New Yorkers support expedited work authorization. A bipartisan group in Congress introduced a bill granting work authorization for asylum seekers after 30 days. Over 100 business leaders in New York released an open letter to President Biden urging him to expedite work authorization.

There is historical and legal precedent for local action in the absence of Federal leadership. A panel of legal scholars convened by UCLA concluded that states may hire undocumented immigrants. As Mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom issued same-sex marriage licenses before its legalization at the Federal level. New York State also waived certification requirements for employing healthcare workers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, granting work authorization at the State level will drive the Federal government to do the same.

Assemblywoman Rajkumar has been leading a call for State and Federal leadership to address New York City’s migrant crisis. She unveiled a package of bills last week creating a Statewide Coordinator of Asylum Seeker Services to implement a Statewide response to the crisis and prohibiting counties from issuing unconstitutional bans on admitting migrants. Governor Kathy Hochul thereafter said she would consider calling a special session of the State Legislature.

The Assemblywoman also led a Citywide coalition of 54 elected officials from all 5 boroughs that called on President Biden to declare a State of Emergency for New York State, expedite work authorization, increase funding for New York City, and implement a decompression strategy at the border.