COMMUNITY ADVISORY *

Below you will find important updates and resources from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the City of New York. Please read and share this information widely with your network.
Temporary Hotel Rooms for COVID-19 Patients and Family:

NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) is making hotel rooms available for New Yorkers who may need to self-isolate because they have COVID-19 or COVID-19 like symptoms, but their homes do not allow for them to stay six feet away from others, or they live with someone who is vulnerable. View more information here.

  • Hotel rooms are also available for New Yorkers without COVID-19, but who live with someone who has COVID-19 and are unable to effectively self-isolate.

  • Call 1-844-892-4892 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to speak with a clinician who can refer you to get a hotel room for up to 14 days, free of charge. This service is FREE and will not affect health insurance or other benefits currently received.

Telemedicine for Vulnerable New Yorkers:

New York City has set up a free Phone-A-Clinician and Tele-Visits to ensure the hardest hit communities have more options when it comes to health care. 

  • Call 844-NYC-4NYC for COVID-19 related medical concerns.

Nonprofit Providers Needed for GetFood Delivery Assistance Program:

GetFoodNYC is dramatically growing in capacity and with a goal to deliver one million meals a day, the City is looking to partner with nonprofits to help manage distribution sites, prepare and package meals (particularly culturally-sensitive meals). There is a strong need for support in areas including Washington Heights, Howard Beach, South Ozone Park, Gravesend/Sheepshead Bay, Morris Park, North Shore Staten Island, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Eastchester, and Sunset Park. 

  • There will be an informational conference call for nonprofits to receive an overview and ask questions. This call will be held on Monday, May 11, 2020, at 3:00PM. Email NYCFood@dsny.nyc.gov to register for the call. Visit nyc.gov/nonprofits for more information.

One Week of Free GroceriesOne week of free groceries are available to all New Yorkers in five boroughs at the Neighborhood Opportunity Network Nutrition Kitchens, in partnership with the Food Bank of NYC and the NYC Young Men’s Initiative.

Domestic and Gender Based Violence Taskforce and Hotline:

New York City will augment its approach to prevent Gender-Based Violence during COVID-19 crisis. 

  • A 24/7 Domestic and Gender Based Violence Hotline is available: 1-800-621-4673 

COVID-19 Community Testing:

The City of New York is working to expand testing for COVID-19 rapidly throughout the five boroughs. Community testing sites operated by NYC Health + Hospitals use self-collection of swabs to minimize contact between patients and health care workers. Self-swab testing for COVID-19 is safer, simpler and faster. Free and convenient walk-in testing is now available. No appointment is necessary. Check the below website regularly for more locations as sites continue to be opened:

  • Last week, Commissioner Mostofi, Department of Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot, and NYC Health and Hospitals Ambulatory Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew Wallach discussed COVID-19 testing updates. Watch and download the full playback recording (Password: vJj9ydiu).

New COVID-19 Flyer from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:

Learn How to Take Care of Yourself And Others at Home (English)Download and share this flyer: Español | Русский | 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano| Polski | العربية | Français | ײִדיש" | اردو | فارسى | ελληνικά | ગુજરાતી  | עברית | हिन्दी | 日本語 | Português | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ(India) | ਪੰਜਾਬੀ(Pakistan) | Tagalog | ไทย | བོད་ཡིག་

Small Business Webinars for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19:NYC Small Business Services is hosting webinars on resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 focused on financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other private organizations; tax, debt, and utilities relief; marketing and employee support; and regulatory changes.

Facebook Small Business Grant:

As small businesses across NYC struggle in the midst of the pandemic, Facebook has invested $6.5 million to help local small business weather this storm.

  • Apply at facebook.com/grantsforbusiness or in Spanish, here.

New York City Bar Association: Legal Resources for New Yorkers:

New Yorkers looking for legal advice and guidance on a wide range of issues can access a series of resources and legal services through the New York City Bar Association, and the work of its City Bar Justice Center CBJC and Legal Referral Service, during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Absentee Voting Information:

Election Day is June 23 for State & Federal Primaries. Early Voting Period is June 13 to June 21. You can vote even if you cannot get to the polling place on Election Day. All registered, eligible voters may apply to vote by Absentee ballot.

  • You can apply to vote by absentee ballot for the election online, by phone, mail, or fax. View more details at vote.nyc/page/absentee-voting or call 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692).

  • Voters affected by COVID-19, including the risk of contracting the virus, should check the box "Temporary Illness" as the reason for requesting an Absentee Ballot. 

Trump’s Latest Attack on Immigrants: What You Need to Know About Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants During Economic Recovery Following COVID-19

Updated April 23, 2020 To download pdf of this community advisory, click here.

 On April 22, 2020, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending the entry into the United States of certain categories of immigrants. The Proclamation seeks to scapegoat immigrants and takes advantage of the current COVID-19 crisis. This Proclamation is another executive decision by the administration to limit immigration into the United States.

When Does the Ban Go into Effect?

The Proclamation is set to take effect on the eve of Ramadan at 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2020. The Proclamation’s ban on immigrants will be in effect for at least 60 days. 

Who is Impacted Under this Proclamation?

The Proclamation denies entry to individuals who as of 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2020:

·      Are outside the United States;

·      Do not have a valid immigrant visa; and

·      Do not have an official travel document other than a visa as of 11:59 PM EST on April 23, 2020 or issued thereafter that permits entry to the United States.

The Ban does NOT Apply to the Following:

·      U.S. Citizens

·      U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) 

·      Individuals entering the U.S. on non-immigrant visas

·      Individuals who are present in the U.S. and applying for adjustment of status

·      Individuals entering on immigrant visas as medical professionals

·      Those seeking entry to the U.S. to do COVID-related work, and their spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old

·      Individuals seeking to enter on the EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program

·      Spouses and children under 21 years old of U.S. Citizens

·      Individuals “whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives”

·      Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children

·      Nationals of Afghanistan and Iraq who are entering the U.S. on Special Immigrant Visas for having served as interpreters for the U.S. Armed Forces, and their spouses and children

·      Those seeking asylum, refugee status, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT)

·      Anyone whose entry is deemed to be in the “national interest”

Consular officers will determine if an individual has established eligibility for an exception. 

What Does This Mean?

The Proclamation effectively prevents nearly all parents and adult children of U.S. Citizens, spouses and children of green card holders, and applicants for most employment-based immigrant visas from being able to obtain immigrant visas to enter the U.S. for the duration of this ban. 

What Reasons Does the Proclamation Give for the Ban?

The Proclamation’s overarching reason for the ban of immigrants is to protect the labor force in America because incoming immigrants represent the greatest threat to the United States’ recovery following COVID-19.  The Proclamation further asserts that the introducing additional permanent residents will place a strain on America’s healthcare system. 

Are the Proclamation’s Reasons Based on Facts?

No. The rationale for the Proclamation is not based on legitimate facts.  Contrary to what the Proclamation claims, foreign workers authorized to work in the United States make up 12.1% of the total U.S. workforce; immigrant works aid in the growth of the U.S. economy accounting for roughly 40% of the 2.4 million jobs added in 2018; jobs generally held by immigrants and US citizens are not the same; and immigrants subsidize healthcare for U.S. born individuals by paying more into the system than they withdraw. 

How Can I Help?

CAIR-New York is calling on all Americans to urge their members of Congress to fight President Trump's plans to "temporarily suspend immigration into the United States" in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is a public health crisis and exploiting the crisis to advance xenophobic immigration policies must be rejected.  Join our efforts to continue to call for No Muslim Ban Ever by signing our petition.  While this ban is new, the ideology behind it is the same and the work to repeal the existing Muslim Ban continues. 

How to Get Legal Help?

If you or someone you know is impacted by this ban and would like to tell your story, would like free legal advice or assistance, or your community would like to request a virtual “Know Your Rights” presentation, please complete our online form at: https://www.cair-ny.org/incident-report/.  You may also email us at legal@ny.cair.com.

*The information contained in this community advisory is provided for information and educational purposes only and not as part of an attorney-client relationship. It is not a substitute for legal advice.