The CEO of Interfaith Works in Syracuse says the new temporary protected status for asylum seekers is a very ‘welcome news’. The social services organization helps immigrants find work, shelter and education. Beth Broadway says the issue was important to address because many immigrants find themselves in situations where they can’t afford to pay rent or get hired.
"We're very excited about is that they will be able to go to work right away," Broadway said. "And this has been one of the biggest problems of the large number of migrants that are crossing the border, is that when they get here by federal law, they cannot go to work until they have proper status in the United States.
Broadway says there’s still a lot to do because the problem is highly politicized by an anti-immigrant sentiment in the country. She suggests the federal government looks at the issue more holistically.
"I think if our federal government could stop being afraid of the immigrant issue and stop being afraid that Americans don't want immigrants here, we would be in much better shape rather than having to apply this population by population by population," Broadway said. "Almost all of us came somewhere along the line from our families as immigrants."
Broadway says the country would benefit from broader immigration reform that allows people to get on with their lives and fill open jobs. Instead, she says it’s become a humanitarian and economic crisis.
