NEW YORK, New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a comprehensive plan to support families seeking asylum, including those from the Caribbean.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams. (Photo credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office)The mayor said the plan, dubbed “Open Arms”, ensures children are provided a full range of services to start their New York City public education on the first day of school next month.
“This multi-agency plan highlights wraparound services to ensure asylum-seeking families and their children will have access to critical academic, social-emotional, and language-based supports needed to be successful in New York City public schools,” Adams said, noting “our city has been, and will always be, a city of immigrants that welcomes newcomers with open arms.
“‘Project Open Arms’ ensures we are well-prepared to assist asylum-seekers as the school year begins and that we are offering wraparound services to students and families. With strong collaboration with our partners, both in and out of government, this plan highlights how we can lead with compassion and ‘Get Stuff Done’ for those who need it most.”
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, said “Project Open Arms” is a multi-agency effort that will provide children and families seeking asylum with the services they need to thrive.
“It is critical to equip these students with the full range of academic, language access, and social-emotional resources to succeed as they adjust to a new and unfamiliar environment,” she added. “We are grateful to our sister agencies and community-based partners for their heroic efforts to assist these families, and look forward to deepening this work as we prepare for the start of the school year.”
New York City Department of Education, Chancellor Banks., said public schools are prepared to welcome families seeking asylum with open arms.
“Our city has always stood with those in need of refuge and shelter, and this administration will continue that proud legacy.
“We are working alongside our agency partners to set students up for success by addressing their academic, emotional, and social needs, and ensuring there is no disruption to their education. Our schools are ready and excited to welcome our newest New Yorkers to class on September 8th.”
The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castor said “New York City is committed to welcoming individuals and families seeking refuge and liberty, which is why our staff has been on the ground every day helping to connect new arrivals to resources.
“With the start of the school year approaching, we are prepared to assist families entering the school system, providing a broad range of supports, including language access and legal services, in close collaboration with agency and community-based organization partners,” he added.
Adams said the “Project Open Arms” will, among other things, simplify the enrollment process, ensure Language Access and Support, provide academic and extracurricular programming, create supportive classrooms and schools, and coordination with community providers and community-based organizations (CBO).
The city estimates that about 6,000 asylum-seekers, including Caribbean nationals, have gone through the intake process in the last three months.
“Every child, regardless of their immigration status, is entitled to a quality education,” said New York City Councilmember, Rita Joseph, the Haitian-born chair of the City Council Committee on Education.
“Our public schools will welcome students seeking asylum and their families with open arms,” added Joseph, who represents the 40th Council District in Brooklyn and taught public schools in Brooklyn for 22 years.
“As a former ENL teacher who had the privilege of teaching immigrant students and students from immigrant households, I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that this school year is as great as it can be for every single child that walks through our school doors this academic year.”
New York City Councilmember Farah Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian parents, said families seeking asylum need full support in accessing needed resources to thrive in schools,” said New York City Councilmember Farah Louis, the daughter of Haitian and Bahamian parents.
“I applaud the mayor’s office in keeping me and my colleagues engaged in ensuring all students enrolling into public schools this year will be supported by the city, and the agencies and organizations who are tirelessly providing these needed services to incoming families,” added the representative for the 45th Council District in Brooklyn.
