The Biden administration has announced that the United States will welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression through the established resettlement pathways, as well as the newly announced Uniting for Ukraine process.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Manuel Castro, announced that the New York City will provide a fund of more than $2 million, to help, currently residing and newly arrived Ukrainian New Yorkers, get access to immigration legal assistance, translation services, social services and other resources.
The funds will go towards expanding and increasing access to the strong and rich resources that are available for all currently residing and newly arrived Ukrainians. New York City will also offer an expanded suite of resources in the coming weeks.
“New York City remains home to the largest Ukrainian population in America and we stand in solidarity with everyone affected, both here and abroad,” said Mayor Adams.
“We are a city of immigrants and will be ready with open arms to provide as much support as needed. This newly proposed funding will ensure that these resources are available to currently residing and newly arrived Ukrainians, and will also allow us to tailor our offerings in the future as new refugees arrive,” he added.
“This dedicated funding for legal services, language access and resettlement costs will be coordinated through city agencies and Ukrainian community-based organizations,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom.
“The Ukrainian community has long been a vibrant part of New York City, and we are prepared to support our Ukrainian brothers and sisters during this difficult time and will welcome all new arrivals to New York City,” she added.
New York is implementing an initiative to provide key services and support to Ukrainian New Yorkers impacted by the Russian-Ukrainian war. The initiative will include immigration legal assistance to help reside newly-arriving members and also aid them in taking advantage of available forms of relief and resettlement pathways, including Temporary Protected Status, humanitarian parole through Uniting for Ukraine, and more.
“Today’s announcement shows our city’s continued and relentless commitment to the Ukrainian community during this difficult time,” said MOIA Commissioner Manuel Castro.
“From the very beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the mayor and I called on our federal partners to extend Temporary Protective Status for Ukrainians already living here and to streamline the process to help refugees and asylum seekers come to the United States, particularly those with family here. I’m committed to ensuring all immigrant New Yorkers know that their city has their back,” he added.
The initiative will also include a public information and education campaign, case management, interpretation and translation, and direct assistance for displaced Ukrainian families resettling in New York City.
“The city of New York continues to be proactive in supporting the Ukrainian communities here and abroad,” said Mayor’s Office of International Affairs Commissioner Edward Mermelstein.
“This funding will be critical in providing important support to help people rebuild their lives across our five boroughs and we look forward to supporting these efforts,” he added.
The initiative will be carried out by a coalition of city agencies, citywide service providers and Ukrainian-serving community-based organizations.
