NEW YORK – Hundreds of black migrants, many from African countries, showed up at City Hall on Tuesday demanding better treatment.
They say all they want is a job and basic shelter.
The migrants and their advocates say they have been treated unfairly and forgotten. The town hall meeting was an attempt to get the attention of state and federal lawmakers. They hope Changes may be made to immigration lawand they could contribute to the economy.
They said they want to work, and they are trying cut through the red tape that holds them back. They asked local leaders to put more pressure on Washington DC to make change.
Dozens gathered on the steps outside City Hall, and hundreds rallied in support nearby, while tears were shed in the City Council chambers for all Black migrants affected by what advocates call unfair treatment.
“They are here to show you that they belong, and that they are here and they should not be erased. Please listen to them,” said Patrice Lawrence, executive director of the UndocuBlack Network.
On Tuesday, city council members held their first meeting to learn more about the experiences Black migrants have faced in New York.
“Black migrants have reported verbal and physical abuse because of the color of their skin,” one person said.
Federal immigration laws either delay the process for these migrants to obtain work permits or, depending on the country they come from, make them ineligible.
“But if they give us work permits, we can work and take care of ourselves,” said one.
Mohammed Bah said he came from Guinea five months ago, ready to work.
“Everywhere you look for a job, they ask for work papers,” Bah said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has done that tried to speed up the processbut to no avail.
“We need real immigration reform,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “Something is just not right and we need to fix it.”
“It’s clear that our immigration system is broken and needs to be overhauled,” New York Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro said.
The migrants at City Hall are also angry about language barriers and temporary shelters, saying 30 days is not long enough.
A mother and her two children who stayed here the Humanitarian Aid Center at Floyd Bennett Field said the city should provide more assistance.
“What I expected was help from the American people, and I don’t see it,” she said.
The shelter remains a point of contention for Republican Councilmember Vickie Paladino, who said the city is already giving migrants too much.
“This is absolute, absolute madness at its finest,” Paladino said. “How much more are we going to do for the illegal immigrants coming into the city?”
“Find solutions for the entire African community,” said one. “They are young boys. They are 19 or 20 years old, so they are ready to work. But we have to create better conditions for these boys.”
“I’m very angry about it because I didn’t think it would be like this. Lack of shelter. Lack of many things. Lack of jobs,” said another.
Johannes Dias
