Alison shares her reflections during the Election Effect Panel.
Alison shares her reflections during the Election Effect Panel.
Photo: IRC

The IRC in New York & New Jersey is inspired by the event turnout at the Election Effect Panel that occurred on Wednesday, November 13 at M.M.LaFleur in New York City! It was a long-awaited discussion that many of us have been grappling with to understand what the projected scenarios and effects on the lives of our clients who are trying to rebuild their lives in New York & New Jersey will be. The truth is, 2025 will be full of change with the biggest effect being a shift in the immigration legal structure of the United States. When it comes to individuals arriving as refugees, asylum seekers, and humanitarian paroles, the 2024 election results have left many in doubt about their futures.  

To help the community and our dedicated supports understand the weight of these concerns and engage in thoughtful conversation, the IRC in NY & NJ held the Election Effect Panel. 

Our Executive Director Tina-Marie Lopez, kicked off the panel reflecting on how from September 2023 through September 2024, we served over 10,000 clients across New York & New Jersey. Alison Millan, the Deputy Director at IRC NJ who has been with us for 12 years, moderated the panel and interviewed the following five speakers: 

We invite you to read about the key takeaways from the panel, including some anticipated effects from the election and client success stories...

The fear of deportability is a real stressor and the role of legal consultations becomes more important as cases become more complex. 

Many individuals and families are trying to secure legal status, apply for work permits, or seek asylum. With the shift in political leadership, changes in immigration policies and enforcement are likely. This makes legal services even more critical for newcomers who are navigating an uncertain landscape. Kristin explained that in the New York office, there is a waitlist of over 250 clients. There are also growing concerns about the future of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), with the likely end of TPS protections for certain countries under the new administration. 

Over the past year or two, there has been a large increase in asylum seekers coming to NYC.  People are coming to the United States through very dangerous terrains and conditions and are willing to endure these hardships because the alternative in their home countries is far worse. Winning an asylum case is a long and difficult process, often taking anywhere from 1 to 6 years. 

Brenda shared

“I’ve received a lot of calls from [asylum seeker] clients who are scared of facing discrimination in public and wondering what they should do in these cases. There are also a lot of concerns surrounding deportation and family separation, especially for families where some members have status and others are still in the process of obtaining legal status.” 

Myvline received similar calls and shared “A call that I recently received that stood out to me was from a mother who just gave birth and was asking me what would happen to her child if she got deported. A lot of times, I don’t have a very clear or hopeful answer to give.” 

The condition of a temporary sense of belonging in a new city makes every-day uncertain 

During the last four years, the IRC has welcomed clients through new humanitarian parole programs. Kristen explained, “Some of the main programs our clients have come through are Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program, and the Cuban Haitian Nicaraguan Venezuelan (CHNV) Parole Program. These programs allow people to live and work in the United States, but that they do not provide them with citizenship. If those individuals wish to stay in the US longer, they have to apply to permanent pathways.” 

Housing instability continues to be a significant challenge for many newcomers, and is especially a concern for those in temporary parole program. This issue may worsen in the aftermath of the election as policies shift. Affordable housing is in short supply, and many families face temporary or overcrowded living conditions. Without stable housing, newcomers can struggle to find footing in their new communities, which complicates efforts to build self-sufficiency. 

Access to economic opportunities remain strained by long processing times and limited access to resources  

One of the most immediate challenges newcomers face is the delay in obtaining Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Juliet explains “These delays are affected by the political climate, which often fuels harmful rhetoric around immigration.” This rhetoric can create an environment of fear and discrimination, making employers hesitant to hire migrants. 

She continued, “Financial independence is going to be more important than ever. We will dedicate more time to advocating for our clients and conducting employer outreach, as harmful narratives can impact employers’ interest in hiring newcomers. Even if future refugee admissions are capped lower, there are still lots of clients that will continue needing financial and employment services. We will continue empowering them for the five years that they are enrolled in our services.” 

Myvline agreed with this and stated that a lot of clients have called her with concerns about not being able to get a work permit and are scared they will lose their jobs.  

Physical and mental health services can be challenging to access, and uncertainties about the future can impact clients’ mental wellbeing, which can often lead to isolation 

For asylum seekers especially, one of the most urgent needs is access to medical care, both physical and mental. 

Newcomers need spaces where they can feel supported as they integrate into their new communities, especially in the face of uncertainty. Support groups can provide both practical guidance and emotional support. Staff will focus on supporting clients’ emotional well-being through these groups, and one-on-one counseling services. 

Hiba stated “We have a support group right now for Haitian mothers, which has helped cultivate a strong sense of community and allowed participants to feel safe when asking question. We hope to use that model for other client populations.” 

IRC staff at Election Effect Panel
IRC in NY and NJ staff at the Election Effect Panel.
In the back row, from left to right: Talia Markowitz, Alison Millan, Gigi Ady, Hiba Qaraman, Brenda Chang, Malín Evertsz Mendez, and Bethany Dill. In the front row, from left to right: Juliet Nangini, Tina-Marie Lopez, Myvline Jules, Emma Young, and Kristin Jung.
Photo: IRC

While these effects took a center-stage in many of the reflections from our speakers, they also shared some key successes

Juliet: A client came to our financial capabilities program with the goal of building credit. She was a widowed mother of 4 children, one of which had a disability. Unable to pay off her loans, including the IOM loan provided to her for her flight to the US, she felt very anxious about her economic future. After working with the IRC, she was able to find employment, apply for and receive a credit building loan, and pay off her loans. 

Myvline: A client through the CHNV program was applying for Temporary Protected Status, which took her 7 months. During this time, she became homeless since she could not work. As her caseworker, I helped her navigate the shelter system and advocated on her behalf when any issues arose. Now, she has been able to find housing and set up her small business. 

Towards the end of the panel, IRC in NY’s Deputy Director Gigi Ady shared another key success. To support the hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers in New York who lack access to critical services, the IRC, in partnership with Documented, launched Documented.info, a platform dedicated to advocating for fair asylum practices and providing essential resources. It does so by connecting newcomers with community-focused journalists.

This is a really unique partnership, as the community-based reporting helps clients feel empowered in the face of injustice. For example, if a client faced poor treatment in a shelter or when accessing services, they could reach out to the journalists at Documented to anonymously report their situation. From there, the journalist would investigate the issue and even go as far as reporting the agency.
-Gigi Ady, Deputy Director at the IRC in NY

Looking Ahead 

The Election Effect Panel was a great starting point to what will be a difficult, but important conversation over the next four years and beyond that. While the future for newcomers is unclear, the need for services remains unchanged. The thousands of individuals supported by the IRC in NY and NJ will continue to need assistance with their basic needs, as well as help navigating the increasingly complex and shifting legal landscape. 

Now, more than ever, we need your help. 

Your donation can directly impact the lives of newcomers who are depending on the IRC’s services. With your support, we can continue to provide vital resources and advocacy at a time when they need it most. 

Consider donating today and help us continue to provide the compassionate support that our community members rely on. Every contribution makes a difference.