- According to community organizers, the majority of migrants express a strong desire to engage in employment opportunities.
- Attorneys assert that migrants encounter significant challenges in navigating the complex process of applying for authorization.
- Moreover, the frequency of migrant buses heading towards sanctuary cities has notably decreased.
Kavier Medero, a Venezuelan native seeking a new beginning in the United States, finds himself among the many migrants and asylum seekers unable to pursue employment due to their immigration status. With his hearing scheduled for 2027, Medero faces a daunting wait, leaving him with limited means to support himself and his family. Living in a Chicago shelter, they confront the imminent threat of eviction, highlighting the urgent need for stable employment to secure permanent housing.
Although the shelter provides basic necessities, the quality of assistance often falls short. Delays in receiving crucial documents from the Chicago Department of Human Services compound their challenges. Moreover, language barriers hinder effective communication with shelter staff, exacerbating their predicament.
Faced with these hardships, Medero resorts to panhandling to meet his immediate needs. However, what he truly seeks is the opportunity to obtain a work permit, enabling him to earn a livelihood and regain autonomy over his financial well-being.
Similar to Medero, Leonardo Pérez Suárez finds himself residing in a shelter in Chicago, specifically the American Islamic College shelter, since his arrival from Cuba in January. In his native country, Pérez Suárez held professional qualifications suitable for higher-level employment. However, his journey to the United States was fraught with perilous challenges, including threats from cartels, evading authorities after escaping from a refugee center in Panama, and navigating bureaucratic obstacles by providing payments to officials to ensure his family’s safety and progress towards a new life.
Despite his qualifications and determination, Pérez Suárez faces significant hurdles due to the delay in his immigration hearing, set for 2026. As a father of two, including an infant just one month old, he confronts the stark reality of limited options without a work permit. Like many migrants, Pérez Suárez is eager to contribute through employment rather than relying on the charity of strangers.
Expressing his willingness to undertake any task, Pérez Suárez emphasizes his readiness to engage in work, including menial tasks such as snow removal, without the need for formal authorization. His plea echoes the sentiment shared by numerous migrants: the desire for an opportunity to support themselves and their families through honest labor.
The issuance of work permits is hindered by both cost and bureaucratic hurdles.
Last autumn, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled its decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to approximately 470,000 Venezuelan migrants who had arrived before July 31, 2023. Under this designation, they were afforded an 18-month window to seek work authorization while awaiting asylum hearings.
Conversely, DHS clarified that migrants from Venezuela and other nations grappling with crises, who arrived after the July cutoff and failed to establish a legal basis for their stay in the U.S., would face repatriation.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extended the application period for work permits, citing “extraordinary” circumstances hindering migrants’ return to their home countries.
The timeline for obtaining authorization varies depending on whether migrants received temporary protection or were paroled upon entry at the border. Those entering through the southern border must either present themselves to border agents or register on the CBP One app developed by Customs and Border Protection.
Upon registration, migrants become eligible for work permits during the validity of their parole status. However, officials caution that the entire process could span months, if not years.
To secure a work permit, migrants must complete an I-765 form issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. In January, the agency announced a fee increase from $410 to $470 for online filings and to $520 for manual submissions, effective April, to meet operational costs, marking the first fee adjustment since 2016 for federal agencies such as Homeland Security.
Ariel Brown, an attorney at the Immigration Legal Resource Center, emphasized that migrants cannot directly apply for work permits upon arrival. Instead, their application must be linked to a pending immigration status request. Brown noted that although parole is sometimes granted at the border, it can be as brief as one day, posing a significant challenge.
Brown highlighted the widespread desire among migrants to obtain legal employment to support themselves and their families. However, the absence of a straightforward avenue to secure employment authorization often forces them into jobs that unfairly penalize them for lacking work authorization.
Efforts are underway to streamline the permit processing procedure.
In September, the Biden administration initiated a pilot program, spanning cities like Chicago, aimed at expediting the issuance of work permits to paroled migrants. Subsequently, clinics have been established in urban areas to assist newcomers in navigating the complexities of immigration paperwork and legal clearances.
According to Yoli Casas, founder of the nonprofit organization ViVe Wellness in Denver, approximately 4,500 to 5,000 individuals were deemed eligible for accelerated work permits. ViVe Wellness focuses on providing migrants arriving in Colorado from the border with housing and employment prospects. Casas underscores that the majority of migrants and asylum seekers her organization assists aspire to secure employment to sustain themselves and their families, often fleeing violence and political corruption in their home countries.
Casas emphasizes that migrants do not embark on such challenging journeys solely for the sake of it; rather, they are driven by compelling reasons. ViVe Wellness collaborates with several nonprofits in Denver to connect migrants with attorneys who aid them in navigating bureaucratic hurdles, including potentially waiving work permit fees.
A similar initiative unfolded in New York, where Mayor Eric Adams spearheaded a three-week “sprint” to identify eligible migrants for employment last autumn. Through comprehensive surveys conducted with over 40,000 asylum-seekers aged 18 and above in city shelters, officials assessed over 10,000 individuals’ eligibility for U.S. employment.
Mayor Adams highlighted the city’s unified stance in advocating for the federal government to facilitate the integration of asylum seekers into the workforce, stating, “Let Them Work.”
Ariel Brown, addressing the challenges faced by migrants, mentioned a proposed bill in Congress, the Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, which aims to eliminate the waiting period for work authorization. However, until such measures are enacted, she suggests limited options are available for addressing these issues.
Resources are scarce.
Despite a significant slowdown in new arrivals of migrants via buses in Chicago, Alderman Andre Vasquez informed NewsNation that the primary challenge in addressing the city’s migrant housing issue lies in finding legal avenues for employing migrants.
A recent initiative spearheaded by The Resurrection Project in Chicago has completed its initial series of workshops aimed at aiding migrants in achieving work eligibility. Over the past three months, attorneys collaborating with the organization have assessed 3,704 individuals to determine their eligibility for work, particularly those with TPS designation or employment enrollment documents through parole.
Out of those assisted, 1,362 have successfully obtained work permits, as reported by the organization. The Resurrection Project has commenced the second phase of its clinics. However, officials noted that only 25% of the 14,000 migrants currently housed in city-run shelters qualify for work permits.
In a statement, the organization acknowledged the reality that the majority of recent arrivals do not meet the criteria for work authorization.
Alderman Vasquez proposed that if President Biden were to issue broad work authorization, extending beyond new arrivals to include undocumented individuals residing in the country for decades, it would significantly mitigate financial concerns. He argued that such a measure would enable individuals to generate income independently, consequently bolstering economic conditions.
Similar to other municipal leaders, Vasquez urged Congress and federal officials, including President Biden, to grant authorization for migrants to seek employment.
Elizabeth Taufa, a policy attorney at the ILRC, countered the feasibility of President Biden issuing an executive order for blanket work authorization, citing potential challenges such as substantial funding requirements from Congress. Additionally, she highlighted potential backlash from Republicans and the strain it would place on the already burdened processing of work authorization applications.
Frequently Asked Question
What does “We’re eager for an opportunity” refer to?
“We’re eager for an opportunity” highlights the readiness of migrants to engage in employment opportunities despite facing various barriers.
Who are the migrants mentioned in this statement?
The migrants referred to are individuals seeking employment opportunities, potentially including refugees, asylum seekers, or those seeking temporary or permanent residency in a new country.
What are the barriers faced by migrants in accessing employment opportunities?
The barriers could include legal restrictions due to immigration status, lack of work permits or authorization, language barriers, discrimination, limited access to resources and support services, and bureaucratic hurdles in the employment application process.
What kind of opportunities are migrants seeking?
Migrants are typically seeking opportunities for gainful employment that allow them to support themselves and their families, contribute to the local economy, and integrate into their new communities.
How are community organizations or government agencies addressing these barriers?
Community organizations and government agencies may provide support services such as legal assistance, job training, language classes, advocacy for policy changes, and initiatives to promote inclusive hiring practices.
Are there any proposed solutions to alleviate these barriers?
Proposed solutions may include reforms to immigration policies to streamline the process of obtaining work permits, increased funding for support services for migrants, awareness campaigns to combat discrimination, and collaboration between stakeholders to address systemic barriers.
How can individuals or organizations support migrants facing barriers to employment?
Individuals and organizations can offer support by volunteering with community organizations, advocating for policy changes, providing employment opportunities or job training programs, offering language assistance, and promoting inclusive and diverse workplaces.
Conclusion
The statement “We’re eager for an opportunity”: Migrants ready to work, but facing barriers encapsulates the resilience and determination of migrants seeking employment opportunities in new countries. Despite their willingness to contribute to society, migrants often encounter various barriers, including legal restrictions, language barriers, and bureaucratic hurdles. However, community organizations, government agencies, and advocates are working tirelessly to address these challenges and create pathways to employment for migrants.
