Schumer, Jeffries, AOC, Nadler & More Call on Biden to Allow Asylum Seekers to Work

The entire New York City congressional delegation, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representatives Jerry Nadler and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, wrote to the Biden administration today, requesting that work authorizations for asylum seekers be expedited.

Many already in the country are trapped in local shelters, unable to work legally for six months due to a federal regulation requiring asylum seekers to wait 150 days before receiving work authorization.

Given the urgent need to grow the labor force in the United States, the letter urges President Biden to eliminate the federal waiting period entirely, as well as to relieve the pressure on localities and charitable organizations serving asylum seekers following the expiration of Title 42.

“A shortfall of immigrants due to our restrictive immigration policies worsens widespread labor shortages and hobbles the U.S. economy at a time when more than 10 million jobs remain unfilled. Cities and states across the country desperately need workers, and millions of people in this country deserve dignified labor and a chance at rebuilding their lives….Without work, many are forced to seek services from government and non-government groups, straining resources in a completely preventable manner.”

The Senate and House NYC delegation signed letter to President Biden.

Senator Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representatives Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Meeks, Torres, Velázquez, Espaillat, Goldman, Bowman, and Clarke all signed the letter.