Anxious migrants in New York are reportedly forgoing medical check-ups and nutritional aid, according to activists.

In the heart of New York City, a mental health crisis is unfolding among its immigrant population. As of early March, approximately 43,000 asylum-seekers are residing in city shelters, a figure that underscores the magnitude of the issue at hand.

The Mayor's Office, under the leadership of Eric Adams, has been proactive in addressing the concerns of immigrant New Yorkers. A commitment to ensuring safety and providing resources has seen an unprecedented investment of $120 million in free immigrant legal services. This message is being disseminated through various channels, including flyers, social media, events, workshops, and roundtables with ethnic and immigrant media outlets.

However, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of these efforts. Councilmember Alexa Avilés has accused the Adams administration of spreading misinformation about the work of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. She has criticised a lack of appropriate services to address immigrants' mental health needs, specifically citing long wait times for the city's suicide and mental health crisis hotline, 988.

This criticism is echoed by domestic violence survivors and mental health professionals. A Korean immigrant woman without legal status, for instance, reached out to the Korean American Family Service Center for assistance with her domestic violence situation. She was terrified to call the police due to fear of deportation and separation from her children. Language barriers, immigration concerns, and the fear of deportation leave domestic violence survivors with nowhere else to turn, according to Lin.

Similarly, children affected by sexual and domestic violence are worried about attending school because they fear their parents might be detained while they are away, according to Stephanie Rovine. This fear is not unfounded; over 3,300 immigrants have been arrested since January 20, a 56% increase over the same period last year.

The renewed immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump is reshaping daily life for thousands of immigrant families. Immigrant New Yorkers are forgoing doctors' appointments, failing to report domestic violence, and doing without public benefits such as food stamps out of fear of immigration enforcement.

In response to these criticisms, the mayor's office has stated that it has been working collaboratively with the agency in a meaningful and productive way. The administration's "first priority" for detained immigrants has been connecting them with legal services. Additionally, the mayor's office has expanded Know Your Rights trainings to the largest in the nation.

The Arab American Family Support Center has seen an 80% surge in requests for mental health assistance in recent months, but the name of the person who reported this increase remains unidentified. Despite these challenges, the mayor's office has urged families to continue sending their children to school, accessing medical care, and calling 911 in emergencies. Mayor Adams has been clear that no New Yorker, regardless of their documentation status, should be afraid to use resources like calling the police, sending their kids to school, seeking medical care, or going to a court hearing.

In conclusion, the mental health crisis among New York's immigrant population is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and action. The city's efforts to address this crisis are commendable, but more needs to be done to ensure that all immigrants feel safe and secure in accessing the resources they need.

Anxious migrants in New York are reportedly forgoing medical check-ups and nutritional aid, according to activists.