On Tuesday, New York state lawmakers announced new legislation they’re calling the “New York ❤️’s Refugees Act.” The legislation is a combination of two bills, said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. The first bill, if signed into law, would bar any New York state locality from discriminating against refugees resettled in their area.
The second bill would direct the state Department of Labor to commission a study to figure out how to minimize obstacles for individuals who come to the United States with careers, professional credentials or degrees and want to utilize them to start their lives in the United States. “When they come here, they’re often forced to start from square one all over again,” Gounardes said at a virtual announcement of the legislation.