Immigrants Can No Longer Be Called Illegal Aliens In New York State
New York now prohibits immigrants who are in the state illegally from being called illegal aliens. It's similar to the move New York made to stop prisoners from being called inmates. Governor Kathy Hochul signed new legislation that makes the change.
Assembly Bill A10147/Senate Bill S9333 was signed into law by Gov. Hochul on Friday, December 9, 2022. It amends the terminology in the laws in New York State to get rid of the terms 'alien' and 'illegal alien,'
Replaces the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" with the terms "noncitizen" and "undocumented noncitizen."
The bill explains the need for the change, stating that the current terminology is divisive,
Although hundreds of years of migration has contributed to the social, economic, and political foundations of the United States, a divide between "us" and "them" has remained crucial to the restriction of people's migration into the United States and immigrant inclusion within the United States.
Inmates in New York State were the first to get a new name. Bill A9273/S8216 was delivered to Governor Kathy Hochul on August 5, and signed into law, according to Pix 11.
Elected officials and advocates believe that the new title doesn't stigmatize them the way 'inmates' does,
Replaces instances of the words inmate or inmates with the words incarcerated individual or incarcerated individuals.
New York State To Provide Free Legal Services To Newly Arrived Immigrants
On November 30, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that immigrants who arrived in New York State this year will receive free legal aid. New York has launched three legal service grants that will help the thousands of immigrants who have arrived in New York City this year.
The New York State Office for New Americans will administer $3 million over three years to provide free immigration-related legal services. The money will be used to help immigrants with important paperwork and required appearances.
The grants will be provided to three organizations:
- Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS), Archdiocese of New York
- New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
- Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (I-ARC)
These organizations will use the money to help more immigrants with completing their asylum applications and other immigration-related legal issues, including representation.
Gov. Hochul Announces New Institute To Help Immigrants In New York State
This fall, Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a new institute to help immigrants integrate in New York. On Friday, September 30, 2022, Gov. Hochul announced the launch of New York State's Institute for Immigration Integration Research & Policy. The new institute will help immigrants transition to the community, including providing help with education and the workforce. It will be located at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, the State University of New York's public policy think tank. Gov. Hochul said,
New York is built on the hard work and determination of generations of immigrants, and this Institute will work to improve the lives of those who are trying to build better lives for themselves and their families. By clearing the boundaries for new New Yorkers, we can help to better integrate them into the New York community and access the New York Dream.
People who immigrate to New York face many challenges, including learning the language, finding safe housing, getting jobs with livable wages, finding transportation, and access to services. The leadership at the institute will analyze real-time immigration data to work with policymakers to help support immigrants.
In 2021, 900 refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders immigrated to the state, according to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. They were mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Afghanistan, and Burma. Over the past year, at least 1,300 Afghan evacuees resettled in New York.
Here are the top 9 counties in New York with the most reported hate crimes:
9. Erie (Buffalo) - 12 incidents and 8 arrests
8. Monroe (Rochester) - 16 incidents and 5 arrests
7. Richmond (Staten Island) - 18 incidents and 7 arrests
6. Bronx (Bronx) - 22 incidents and 17 arrests
5. Nassau (Hempstead) - 28 incidents and 8 arrests
4. Westchester (Yonkers) - 40 incidents and 6 arrests
3. Queens (Queens) - 47 incidents and 18 arrests
2. New York (Manhattan) - 82 incidents and 23 arrests
1. Kings (Brooklyn) - 103 incidents and 34 arrests
While any number of hate crimes is horrible, when you think of the population of New York State, these numbers are relatively low. However, keep in mind the bar to consider an incident a hate crime is pretty high. Aside from the fact that many potential hate crimes often go unreported.
Data provided by the NY Deptartment of Criminal Justice Services
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