Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Hon. Governor Kathy Hochul

Executive Chamber, NYS Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Hochul:

We write to urge additional monetary support and funding be provided to upstate communities,
understanding that upstate is also hosting an influx of asylum seekers and migrants. We
recognize that our national immigration system remains in need of serious reform that demands
federal action and funding; however, this inaction means that communities across New York
and the country are largely left to their own devices in responding to this crisis. More than
100,000 asylum seekers and migrants have come to New York State since Spring 2023, and the
state government has allocated more than $1.5 billion for support services, developing
resources, temporary housing, and more.

As in our May 25, 2023 letter, we continue to urge President Biden and the federal government
to expedite work authorizations for asylum seekers, and as part of that effort, it is imperative that
we assist our upstate communities and local governments on the frontline with sufficient
financial resources.

As you know, thousands of these newcomers have also made their way into upstate
communities, where local governments and more do not have the capacity or resources
comparable to New York City. We applaud your recent announcement of $20 million in funding
to New York City with the goal of helping asylum seekers exit emergency shelters, secure work
authorizations, and manage their claims for asylum.

As upstate lawmakers, we urge that your administration in turn provide comparable financial
support for our upstate communities to assist with the needs of asylum seekers and migrants.
The most immediate needs aside from temporary housing are legal services to navigate the
citizenship process, English language programs to overcome the language barrier, and
necessary training and support if workforce authorization is expedited. By providing for
expedited work authorizations, a path to citizenship begins and we can address the significant
workforce shortages in our hospitality, service, and healthcare fields (hospitals, nursing homes,
care for individuals living with disabilities).

Upstate New York has a long history of embracing and welcoming new Americans, which has
enriched our culture and contributed to our state’s shared economic prosperity. To ensure that
our upstate communities can continue to welcome and support these newcomers in the future,
we must ensure they have the financial resources necessary to do so. We appreciate your
attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your response. As always, please do not
hesitate to reach out to us to discuss further.

Sincerely,

Patricia Fahy John T. McDonald, III Neil Breslin

109th Assembly District 108th Assembly District 46th Senate District

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 717, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-4178, FAX: 518-455-5737
cc: New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie,
New York State Senate President Pro-Tempore Andrea Stewart-Cousins,
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer,
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand,
New York State Congressional Delegation,
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy,
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan

ALBANY OFFICE: Room 717, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-4178, FAX: 518-455-5737