In the last year, over 140,000 immigrants, asylees, and refugees have arrived in New York City. Their need for social services and support has been significant, as many have come fleeing war and persecution.

New York City has long been a beacon for new immigrants, but unfortunately, as the impact of the recent waves has become more visible and inconvenient, the welcoming sentiment has dissipated. The administration and even some long-time community supporters have moved away from broadly welcoming new immigrants.

It is important to acknowledge that the surge in new immigrants has put a significant strain on the City and its resources. Even before the first waves arrived, city agencies and non-profits struggled to meet service demand. However, punitive short-term solutions that put new immigrants in harm's way are not the solution. We encourage our community to continue supporting front-line organizations delivering critical services to new arrivals and to advocate for better policies and increased investments. At the federal level, it means reaching out to our state senators so that more federal funds are provided to the City to help offset the costs of increased services. At the City level, urging the administration to move away from dangerous policies and work with business and non-profit leaders to coordinate and strategize on long-term, viable solutions.

Chipping away at safeguards such as the right to shelter, which offers anyone the right to shelter and food, will only lead to thousands of vulnerable people being forced to live on the streets. Evicting families after a 60-day stay in a shelter will only ensure that children, who often rely on school meals and the protective space of a classroom, will be shuffled from school to school, go hungry, miss critical learning time, and be exposed to potentially dangerous congregate settings.

Riverside Language Program continues its unwavering commitment to supporting newly arrived immigrants and will continue to work with field allies, city agencies, and advocates to provide as many safeguards as possible and advocate for policies that uphold our City's constitutional commitment to support those in need.