Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
National Guard to help Venezuelans apply for working papers, Gov. Hochul says
By
Jon Campbell
Published Sep 25, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
By
Jon Campbell
Published Sep 25, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
National Guard members in New York will help asylum-seekers and other migrants apply for work authorization after the Biden administration extended temporary legal protections last week to recently arrived Venezuelans, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Hochul on Monday announced she was assigning an additional 150 Guard members to assist with efforts to house and help migrants in New York City’s care, pushing the total number of deployed National Guard members to 2,200.
Of the total, 250 Guard members will be tasked with case management — helping Venezuelans and other asylum-seekers navigate the application process to get Temporary Protected Status, work authorization or both, the Democratic governor said.
“You’ll be helping them get a job, helping them support themselves, helping themselves leave the shelters,” Hochul said at the National Guard 369th Regiment Armory in Harlem.
Last Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it would extend Temporary Protected Status — legal protections for migrants who cannot safely return to their home country — to Venezuelans who had been in the U.S. as of July 31.
Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and the state’s Democratic congressional delegation had been pushing for the change, saying it could help thousands of migrants receive work authorization, a much needed lifeline that would allow them to eventually leave the city’s overrun shelters.
But now, state, city and federal officials have to ensure those newly eligible Venezuelans complete the proper paperwork to receive the temporary protections and gain the ability to legally work.
It remains unclear exactly how many Venezuelans in New York will be affected by the Biden Administration’s action. Adams’ office estimates it would apply to about a quarter of the 60,000 migrants currently in the city’s care, while federal officials have said it is closer to 30,000.
On Monday, state Homeland Security Commissioner Jackie Bray declined to quantify how many people could be eligible.
“It will be many thousands, but we won't know exactly how many until we get working on it,” she said.
Hochul’s announcement Monday comes as the federal government is committing at least 50 workers for a previously announced “month of action” aimed at ensuring asylum-seekers — who can receive work authorization after a waiting period of at least 180 days — are filling out their applications.
The New York Post reported the federal Department of Homeland Security secured space in a Lower Manhattan office building to process applications for migrants. Speaking to reporters in Harlem, Hochul said the state will be providing that space to the federal government.
She said “50 or 60” federal employees were arriving in New York City on Monday to assist.
“This is what I asked for from the White House, as well,” Hochul said. “I said, you need to surge up staff.”
New York City, meanwhile, also has an Asylum Application Help Center, which is tasked with helping asylum-seekers complete their paperwork and gather the relevant documentation. It’s staffed with the help of local colleges and law firms.
Tagged
new york state
new york city
Asylum Seekers
housing
Kathy Hochul
Politics
Jon Campbell
Jon Campbell covers the New York State Capitol for WNYC and Gothamist. Prior to that, he covered the Capitol for more than a decade for the USA TODAY Network. He has twice earned the Walter T. Brown Memorial Award, an honor given annually by the Legislative Correspondents Association alumni for outstanding state government coverage. Jon grew up in the Buffalo area and graduated from the University at Albany. Got a tip? Email Jon at [email protected] or Signal at JonCampbellNY.90.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Former NYPD detective in custody after George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 21, 2026 at 4:26 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 21, 2026 at 5:43 p.m. ET
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Port Authority eyes $117M fix to Manhattan roadway where falling debris smashed cars
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Bronx couple starved their 3-year-old to death, indictment says
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .