Immigrants will march 241 km away from New York for aid

New York, March 15 The New York immigrant community took to the streets of the Big Apple on Tuesday, and the march would take him to the state capital, who was fighting for a new state budget to support $241 billion undocumented after traveling 3 km. Many people lost their jobs due to workers who were still struggling to recover from the devastation of the pandemic. Cleaning, construction, restaurants, street vendors and food delivery workers considered essential during the pandemic have left for Albany, the seat of government, with great encouragement and cries: “Yes, we can” and “never rule out again”. Where the draft budget for the new fiscal year is going on has been discussed, which will be approved on April 1. Immigrants, after appearing in a 23-day hunger strike, are about to reiterate the victory of a year ago when the state legislature approved $21 billion to the nation's largest exclusion workers fund, benefiting workers who did not receive financial support from Congress due to their legal status.Pandemic or unemployment benefits Funds that paid up to $15,600 per family were quickly exhausted, and 75,000 people who applied for it were left without aid. It is estimated that if the bill was passed, 175,000 workers would be able to receive aid, which many were unable to apply. “Two years ago, mass unemployment hit New York, and one in four immigrants was unable to pay rent or feed their families.” At a press conference held on the street today, a coalition of about 20 organizations supporting them said. Immigrants who were excluded from unemployment and were unable to stay at home “had no choice but to go out to find a job, and had coronavirus,” many people died, recalled at a press conference. After that, a brief silence was observed in honor of those killed by the plague, mostly Mexicans. Immigrants are also calling for the approval of a project that would allow the creation of a permanent unemployment fund for undocumented immigrants as part of the new budget and to grant more licenses to street vendors that have not occurred since the 1980s, which is the lifeline of many people after losing their jobs. The budget proposal sent by the Governor to the Legislature does not include funds claimed by immigrants or funds agreed on Monday by the Senate and Congress, which are currently to be discussed and must be approved by April 1. The only thing that includes the budget of the legislature is health insurance, which will benefit undocumented adults. Several immigrants shared their life stories, including Erica Juárez, a Mexican domestic worker who led a march dressed as an Aztec dancer. He urged Hochul to support the money he was asking for because “the fund was not reached and it was not enough.” “I have not been able to reach that fund and I need it because I have debts. There are many people like me who are going through this situation.” He said he received applause and cheers from immigrants holding signs with messages such as “Street vendors are essential” or “We wash clothes, prepare food, deliver packages, and while legislators allow our community to starve”. The march of immigrants, which began after listening to Joan Manuel Serrat's popular song “Caminante no camino,” will stop along the way to hold a demonstration in front of the House of Representatives.