More than 50 faith leaders will be in the nation’s capital on Tuesday to call on the federal government to provide more help to New York for the migrant crisis.
The group, known as the “concern clergy,” plans to meet with both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“It is not a matter of having a stronger voice or a greater voice, but we are adding to the voices. We are faith leaders, and it is our moral obligation to extend a helping hand to those who are in need,” Pastor Edward-Richard Hinds, who is leading the effort, said in a phone call with NY1.
Hinds, who said meetings with Republican leaders are still being finalized, said the trip will focus on pushing for immigration reform, expedited work authorization and a resettlement strategy for migrants.
Hinds, who heads the Rugby Deliverance Tabernacle in Brooklyn, said they plan to meet with federal lawmakers from other states, including California, New Jersey and Connecticut.
City officials said last week the city has already spent $4 billion to house and feed over 180,000 migrants who have come to the city. Of those, more than 64,000 are in the city’s care.
“We are hopeful that this will be a productive meeting and that this will advance the ask of the city and that we will see a positive response that will benefit the migrants here,” Hinds said.
The federal government has committed about $156 million in funding to the city but officials have already received $49 million.
Mayor Eric Adams applauded the effort in a statement on Monday.
“From the beginning of this national humanitarian crisis, the faith community has stepped up tremendously to support new arrivals," the mayor’s statement read. "This has not only taken a whole-of-government approach, but also a whole-of-New York City approach.”
Hinds told NY1 the trip was planned independently from the mayor’s office.
The trip comes as religious centers have slowly started to house migrants.
Last week, the city opened its fifth shelter in a church for single migrants. The center, located in Maspeth, Queens, will provide beds and daily meals to 15 single adults. The site will be open to migrants from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and includes an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.