The reports of migrants being shipped to New York by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the current political climate challenged me to gain first-person experience and learn what newly arrived asylum seekers are facing. As I signed up to volunteer at an immigrant services center, I braced myself in preparation of viewing the conditions in which migrants are living as they try to make a place for themselves in this country. 

 I was surprised to learn that families in NY are currently being served well and assisted in the best way possible. Before volunteering to assist with services at Catholic Charities of NY, I had preconceived notions, assuming there would be a lack of needed services.

Although the agency and organizations on the ground are doing their best – holding clothing drives and distributing ready-to-go meals, among other efforts – it’s hard to say whether that will be enough to meet the needs of this vulnerable population and help them overcome the numerous barriers they face.

I started my volunteer shift by signing in, donning the shirt provided, which indicates association with the organization. I then immediately got to work, assisting the families who come to the service center for support. 

Many of those transported to NY do not have support systems or adequate plans that may allow them to thrive. Among the people who sought care were families with children, pregnant folks, and mothers who had recently given birth. While speaking to some of the families, I learned of a migrant who was nine months pregnant and had received neither prenatal care, nor check-ups, throughout the entire pregnancy. She would seek to be connected to medical services in NY to ensure that her baby is healthy. Another family arrived in the city with a baby who was about nine days old. Usually, when a person gives birth, they can take time to rest and protect the well-being of their newborn, but this family hadn’t any choice – mother, baby, and family had to go out immediately after the birth to find whatever resources were available.

The people who come in to seek services are lined up in two groups – those who have appointments, and those who do not. Each family group is given a number and a list that describes some of the necessary services on offer, among which are case management and medical assistance. Next is the application for the NY ID – this ID is provided to New Yorkers from all five boroughs, regardless of immigration status. It’s a necessary form of identification for those who would otherwise be unable to obtain a government ID; and allows immigrants to access city services, in addition to serving as a form of identification when approached by NYPD. This ID is not necessarily helpful in finding and/or retaining employment, which puts families in a position of being unable to get work or having to work without a permit. In the U.S., working without a permit can hinder the citizenship application process or cause immigrants to be ineligible – having no work permits can be viewed as breaking the law, potentially resulting in denial of asylum.

My experience as a volunteer brought the realization that, though medical assistance is available, reproductive healthcare does not seem to be offered, nor considered a priority. In the discussion of immigration issues, the issues of restricted availability of reproductive care, and systemic barriers to receiving care, are left out. Top challenges of access to healthcare for immigrant women are 

• Medicaid restrictions (immigrants with legal status must wait five years to access federal Medicaid coverage); and 
• Fear of deportation and family separation. For Immigrant Women, Access to Reproductive Care is its Own Challenge

Moreover, pre-migration and post-migration experiences often involve violence in trauma, which are likely to be unaddressed and often go untreated.  (Access to preventive sexual and reproductive health care for women from refugee-like backgrounds: a systematic review). 

Though brief and viewed from a perspective of privilege (as a person with citizenship), the overall experience gained from my time as a volunteer in the service center has provided some important learnings. I now have some knowledge of what asylum seekers are facing in New York – limitations, barriers, and systemic inattention that perpetuate shortages of crucial, necessary, services. My high-level takeaways: 

• It is vital that, within the discussion of migrants and asylum seekers, the issues of birth justice and reproductive health care are neither overlooked nor ignored. 
• Some agencies are doing the best they can; Legislators, NYC civic leaders (governor, mayor, councilors), health organizations, service providers, and advocates must all play a proactive role in implementing the necessary services for this vulnerable population. 
• Access to healthcare is a human right – barriers must be removed, and access disparities must be corrected now, immediately, before a crisis level is reached during the coldest season of the year.

Global Foundation for Girls is committed to amplifying the work of grassroots organizations fighting for birth and reproductive justice. Contact us or donate today to support our work!

Calls to action/and ways to help and support:

• Volunteers, supporters, and advocates are needed
• Sign up to donate your time and services (health workers, doulas, translators’ clinicians, therapists)
• Contact your legislators
• Work with Mutual Aid Groups
• Raise awareness around these issues – influencers and bloggers: get the word out.

For more information and resources, check out these websites:

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York

New York’s Mayor Office of Immigrant Affairs 

Author: Nicauris Veras, Program Officer – Policy and Advocacy Initiatives