Services to Asylum Seekers, Immigrant Detainees, Seafarers, and Medical Clients

Maryam ZomaSocial Work Intern

Seafarers and International HouseSilberman School of Social Work at Hunter College

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee ProjectsWhat is an asylum seeker?

An individual outside their country of origin and must prove that he or she has suffered past persecution and/or has a well-founded fear of future persecution based on one of five grounds or a combination of grounds: Race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular

social group, and political opinion

Number of asylum seekers accepted in the US: Approximately 48,000 per year

Number of asylum applications in 2011 to the US: Approximately 74,000

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee ProjectsWhat is an immigrant detainee?

Every day, 34,000 immigrants are held in detention centers throughout the country because of a bed mandate law requiring at least 34,000 immigrants be held in detention. In 2011, more than 429,000 immigrants were held in detention facilities.

The people in immigration detention are detained (imprisoned)because: Some have crossed a U.S. border without the required documentation Apprehended at the border or in a raid and are waiting for deportation Overstayed a temporary visa Some have committed a crime, served their time, and are detained waiting for

deportation Lawful permanent residents subject to deportation for minor offenses, which

are misdemeanors for U.S. citizens but deportable offenses for lawful permanent residents

Other immigrants cannot return to the United States if they have traveled outside the United States in violation of a temporary visa or asylum status, and are thus detained upon re-entry

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee Projects

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee ProjectsHow to apply for asylum

statusWhen to apply for asylum

statusDoes one receive public

benefits?When to apply for work

authorizationWhen to apply for a Green

Card (Permanent Residency)When to apply for US

Citizenship

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee ProjectsNumber of asylum seekers and

immigrant detainees staying at SIH:2013: 20 people, 381 nights2014: 7 people, 113 nights

Agencies we work with and accepted clients from:First FriendsBellevue/NYU Program for Survivors

of TortureImmigration EqualityWeil Cornell Medical CenterCatholic CharitiesUrban Justice Center

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee ProjectsCase Study:

Hector*, unaccompanied minor from Mexico and was released to First Friends and Urban Justice Center on his 18th birthday. He was previously staying at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, NY prior to coming to SIH. He stayed with SIH for 1 ½ months and is now living with a First Friends detention center volunteer in New Jersey and is planning on working on his GED.

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee ProjectsDetention Center

Visitation ProgramCreating a robust and

cohesive volunteer program with a training component and manual

Started in October 2013 Total number of

volunteers: 28 volunteers Total number of detainees

visited: 15 detainees Total number of facilities

visited: 3

Asylum Seeker and Immigrant Detainee ProjectsAsylum events:

December 2013: Right of Asylum ReceptionDecember 2013: Manhattan Ministerium

Future Plans:03/31/2014: Feminists at Work Roundtable at Fordham

University04/02/2014: Presentation at Silberman School of Social

Work at Hunter College, in coordination with the Global Social Work Students Group

04/05/2014: Fordham Inequality Conference05/05/2014: Forced Migration ReviewElection year in NY State: Voter registration drive, host a

candidate to come to speak about their stance on immigration

Assistance to SeafarersSeafarers International

Union Hall At the hall every Monday

from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm to provide services to seafarers

Common issues and concerns: Unemployment Maintaining and managing

finances while unemployed Applying for all of the

documents required to ship in a timely manner

Retirement Marital/spousal issues

Budgeting workshop

Assistance to SeafarersCase Studies

Mr. Johnson*, retired seafarer, hospitalized for health issues and sent to a nursing home in September 2013. When he recovered, he no longer needed the nursing home and looked for a more independent living facility. I worked with him and the YMCA in Brooklyn. The client was able to move into a studio apartment in the YMCA in November 2013.

David* faced issues applying for TWIC Card in August 2013, requiring him to submit additional documents to TSA. Dr. Dan Molly and I assisted him submitting letters, one signed by Dan and one signed by SIU. I assisted him in submitting all the required documents to TSA and helping him register for the Coast Guard stamp.

Assistance to Medical ClientsReferral from Columbia University Medical Center2 clients, 21 days, mother and son

Ms. Taylor* and her son were referred to us by Columbia University Medical Center. They were previously staying at Hope Lodge, a hotel run by the American Cancer Society. They stayed at Hope Lodge for 4 months while he was undergoing treatment. Because he had long stays in the hospital, they had to leave Hope Lodge because his long hospital stays violated their policies. The coordinator at Columbia worked with Miracle House, another cancer treatment hotel program, to get them a reservation there. The client is currently staying at Miracle House.