Under Threat & Left Out: NYC’s Immigrants and the Coronavirus Crisis

Immigrants have played an important role in New York City’s economic resurgence in the last 40 years, but during the COVID-19 pandemic many have struggled to meet their basic economic and healthcare needs. Despite facing job loss, physical and mental health challenges, food insecurity and business closures, immigrants have largely been excluded from government programs created to help those in need. Under Threat & Left Out: NYC’s Immigrants and the Coronavirus Crisis, published by the Center for an Urban Future in partnership with New York Immigration Coalition, documents the range of problems faced by immigrants based on interviews with leaders of more than 20 non-profit organizations in the city. Multiple organizations reported that as many as 75 percent of their clients experienced food insecurity. Immigrants struggled to access relief, most not qualifying for government assistance programs and even if they did qualify,  refraining from accessing benefits because of the “public charge” rule. Limited technology access and language skills made it more difficult for many immigrants to access city and state benefits and made at-home learning challenging for immigrant families with school-aged children. Many immigrants struggled with apartment overcrowding leading to an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission (adding to the physical and mental stress of stay-at-home orders). These populations also lacked access to preventative healthcare and COVID-19 testing and treatment. To support immigrant New Yorkers, the authors recommend the city and state government: create an emergency cash assistance fund for immigrants; increase investment in preventive health services in immigrant communities; maintain funding for immigration legal services;  establish a commercial rent-relief program; ensure messaging and outreach to combat anti-Asian racism; and protect immigrant essential workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. (The Immigrant Learning Center’s Public Education Institute)

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