Gothamist – Looking to crack down on wage theft and other forms of exploitation, the City Council passed legislation on last week creating an Immigrant Workers Bill of Rights.

Councilmember Shahana Hanif, who authored the bill, said the measure was partly designed to protect asylum-seekers who have received their work papers and are now entering the city’s workforce.

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Documented – With so many asylum seekers looking for employment, workplace exploitation — already common in jobs like construction and cleaning where they generally work — is on the rise. Hanif said the city has seen an “uptick in workplace harassment,” including wage theft, lack of paid sick leave and workers being prevented from joining unions. 

A worker’s bill of rights would help educate newly arrived immigration about their rights and protections, Hanif said.

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City Limits – To date, New York City has welcomed well over 120,000 asylum seekers, with more than half still in our city’s care. These tens of thousands of asylum seekers have fled war in Niger, conscription in Russia, and gang violence in Guatemala. Despite coming from different continents, these disparate communities are searching for similar opportunities for safety and have endured unthinkable hardship to reach the five boroughs.

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Politico – Still, critics say Adams’ actions sends a message lacking in compassion.

“What we’ve witnessed from this administration — even if they’re not directly saying ‘you’ve got to get out of here’ — is that they’ve consistently created hysteria and chaos and confusion and have not used a tone of inclusivity and welcome,” City Council member Shahana Hanif said in an interview.

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Gothamist – “Mayor Adams has left no stone unturned to ensure that these new New Yorkers get the legal support necessary to thrive,” said Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro.

Councilmember Shahana Hanif, who chairs the immigration committee and has long criticized the administration for failing to help new migrants apply for asylum and work permits in large numbers, applauded the city’s latest efforts.

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City + State – But for those facing shelter limits who don’t manage to find alternative housing options, advocates and some lawmakers have said the stay limits will result in people being unnecessarily shuffled around, disrupting children’s lives and schooling in particular.

At a City Council hearing on legal services for asylum-seekers on Wednesday, Council Member Shahana Hanif, chair of the Committee on Immigration, suggested that the policies will also complicate the process of applying for asylum, as asylum-seekers will have to file changes of address with every new shelter placement in order to receive crucial notices on their status and applications from the federal government.

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Brooklyn Paper – The space also incorporated new loading zones on East Second Street for businesses and residences, and will eventually include granite blocks, planters, umbrellas, moveable furniture and more to brighten up the space and keep vehicles out. 

“I am so thrilled to announce the expansion of Kensington Plaza today,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif on Wednesday.

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Brooklyn Paper – According to the DOT, the city’s open streets program transforms streets into public spaces, aiming to support economic development, provide educational opportunities and create a sense of community among New Yorkers. One of the core aspects of the program is a full closure of designated streets, allowing for car-free activities while constructing safe gathering spaces.

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AM NY – The time limit policy, which caps the length of shelter stays for single adult newcomers at 30 days (recently, it had been dropped from 60 days), was introduced earlier this year as a means of freeing up shelter beds as thousands of migrants continue pouring into the city every week.

While introducing the bill at the council’s by-monthly meeting on Thursday, Hanif — a frequent critic of the mayor — blasted the so-called 30-day rule as “undeniably cruel.”

“Forcing people out of the shelter makes it harder to apply for asylum, TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and work permits due to address change and lack of stability,” Hanif said.

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News 12 – Mayor Eric Adams has tightened rules to limit adult migrants to 30 days in city-run facilities, but now there is a proposal to change that.

Council Member Shahana Hanif is introducing a new bill that would prohibit the city or mayor from imposing restrictions on the length of a shelter stay. 

Hanif tells News 12, “We are hearing from asylum seekers across the city who have received these notices that this is creating further confusion for them, further destabilizing them.”

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