August 8th, 2023
County Executive Bello to lobby Congress for expedited work visas for migrants
Spanish Language Version (PDF)
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello today announced that a Rochester hotel that filed an emergency housing plan with the Monroe County Department of Human Services (DHS) is now accommodating 77 asylum seekers sent by New York City. The asylees arrived Monday evening and the group includes families with children. The emergency housing plan, fully funded by New York City, complies with the County Executive’s May 23, 2023 executive order and provides for adequate housing, food and support services to meet the fundamental needs of asylum seekers. Asylees are lawfully admitted into the United States while they officially seek asylum.
“New York City’s migrant crisis is impacting the entire state of New York. Here in Monroe County, I put an executive order in place to ensure that any asylum seekers brought here would have their housing, medical, and personal needs addressed and planned for, with funding secured from New York City,” said County Executive Adam Bello. “Our goal was to avoid a chaotic scramble for services and to respect the dignity of those individuals lawfully awaiting resolution of their asylum claims. In coordination with the Mayor’s office in New York City and the local hotel, and with tremendous support from our local community based organizations, an emergency housing plan with funding is in place, providing protections to both the asylees and Monroe County residents.”
The emergency housing plan was approved by the Monroe County Department of Human Services (DHS) and will be reviewed every thirty days for compliance. The plan must ensure that adequate housing has been arranged for the duration of the families’ stay in Monroe County, that adequate meals are provided, and that other essential needs and services, including medical needs, are provided for. Any hotel or other facility that seeks to provide emergency housing to any group of more than ten people must file an emergency housing plan with the Monroe County Department of Human Services.
The Bello administration continues to coordinate with the Mayor’s office in New York City and their contractor DocGo to ensure a smooth transition and the proper support systems are in place. Both the County and DocGo have been in contact with Monroe County businesses and community based organizations with the intent to contract locally for necessities such as food, security, and other support services.
While awaiting their asylum hearings, asylees would greatly benefit from having the opportunity for employment. To that end, County Executive Bello has had conversations with both Congressman Joe Morelle and the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) about how to best advocate for the streamlining of the work visa process.
“The asylum seekers came here to attain the American dream — and that dream happens by having a job and the ability to work for a better future,” said County Executive Bello. “Federal laws now prohibit asylees from working and that needs to change.”
