Stringer Sends Letter to DHS Opposing New Citizenship Application Fees
New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer sent a letter to Citizenship and Immigration Services at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging the federal agency to not move forward with a proposed 61 percent increase in the citizenship application fee totalling $1,170. Comptroller Stringer’s letter noted that the exorbitant rise in the fee would present an undue financial burden on the costs of naturalization, particularly on those families who live on or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).
Stringer wrote, “I am gravely concerned that the proposed rule in question will make this economic barrier insurmountable for far more immigrants eligible for naturalization. In 1985, the fee for naturalization was $35. If the application fee had risen with the pace of inflation, it would only be $85 today. However, as a result of allowing the USCIS to increasingly self-finance with ever larger fees, DHS’ proposed rule would increase the application fee by a whopping 61 percent to $1,170, nearly one week’s pay for the median household in New York City.”
DHS is also proposing to eliminate fee waivers for applicants with a household income of less than 125 percent of the FPG, which would remove more than $360.1 million annually from immigrant communities in need of this subsidy. Comptroller Stringer urged DHS to reconsider these proposed changes as both would preclude thousands of immigrants from applying for citizenship, and thereby creating a barrier of entry to a sense of belonging, economic opportunity and achieving the American Dream.
Read the full letter here.
Cuomo Proposes Legalizing Gestational Surrogacy
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the 16th proposal of his 2020 State of the State agenda Monday — lifting New York’s harmful ban on gestational surrogacy to help support LGBTQ couples and people struggling with fertility start families. Current New York law prohibits gestational surrogacy, creating legal uncertainty for parents using reproductive technology to conceive a child. The Governor’s proposed legislation will establish criteria for surrogacy contracts that would provide the nation’s strongest protections for surrogates and parents and streamline the “second parent adoption” process, removing outdated barriers and extending common-sense protections for New Yorkers looking to start their families.
“New York’s surrogacy ban is based in fear not love, and it’s past time we updated our antiquated laws to help LGBTQ couples and people struggling with fertility use commonplace reproductive technology to start families,” Cuomo said. “New York is one of only three states that explicitly prohibits this practice — that’s unacceptable, and I’m going to make it a priority again this year to repeal the ban and provide the nation’s strongest protections for surrogates and parents choosing to take part in the surrogacy process.”
The new legislation will lift the State’s harmful ban on gestational surrogacy. Under current law, paid surrogacy is punishable by a fine, and unpaid surrogacy agreements are unenforceable and not legally binding. A Surrogates’ Bill of Rights would also be created, which will guarantee the strongest protections in the nation for surrogates, ensuring the unfettered right of surrogates to make their own health care decisions, including whether to terminate or continue a pregnancy and that surrogates have access to comprehensive health insurance and independent legal counsel of their choosing, all paid for by the intended parents. The law would also create legal protections for parents of children conceived by reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and egg donation, and establish criteria for surrogacy contracts to protect all parties in the process.
De Blasio Launches New Crime Prevention Efforts
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today the creation of new multi-ethnic interfaith Neighborhood Safety Coalitions, increased NYPD presence, and new Department of Education lesson plans and curriculum as part of the City’s commitment to the prevention of hate crimes and anti-Semitic attacks. In addition to an immediate increased NYPD presence, the new Neighborhood Safety Coalitions will have physical presence in the community with neighborhood safety walks and corner watches. They will also offer ongoing programming designed to promote tolerance and break down stereotypes.
“Fearing the next act of terror will not become the new normal for our Jewish neighbors. In New York City, diversity is our strength and we respect the traditions of all who call New York City home. Intolerance will never take hold here,” said de Blasio.
The NYPD will increase resources and patrols to precincts in Borough Park, Midwood, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Williamsburg. Each precinct will have an additional 4 to 6 officers per tour. In addition to an increased NYPD presence at houses of worship and during local events, six new light towers will be posted in Borough Park and additional security cameras will be installed throughout these neighborhoods. 15 light towers have already been installed this month.
Neighborhood Safety Coalitions will launch in Williamsburg, Crown Heights, and Borough Park, and will be overseen by the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. These individual coalitions will identify and address issues that drive hate-based crimes, bringing together stakeholders from across their communities. They will meet community members where they are — in schools, on street corners, in religious institutions — to be a regular presence to deter acts of hate.
