Immigrants in New York will be able to study for free in college: City Hall launches pilot program

New York Mayor Eric Adams wants to send the city's immigrants to college for free. Writes about it New York Post.

Adams plans to provide 100 migrants with 12 months of education, housing and meals in upstate Sullivan County.

The pilot program, which will be overseen by Adams' newly formed agency, the Office of Asylum Seekers, includes both SUNY Sullivan Community College in tiny Loch Sheldrake and the Discovery Centre, a specialty college in nearby Harris.

The tuition fee the city will pay has not been disclosed, but it is likely to exceed $1,2 million in the first year, based on the cost of two semesters at SUNY Sullivan.

“The city hall gives us money for food for people's lives, dormitories and food,” said Michael Rosen, a spokesman for the Discovery Center.

In Loch Sheldrake, news of Adams' program sparked controversy among locals, with Raj Patel, 49, saying: "Do I want this? Probably no".

“It's a nice, quiet town, and we don't know who these people are,” said Patel, who owns Loch Sheldrake Wine and Liquor and a local gas station. “They could be criminals or drug dealers. They are illegal."

He then added, “I am an immigrant. Came here legally from India. Nobody gave me anything. I wanted to go to college, but I started working and never stopped working. It seems unfair to me that you give people free housing and free higher education just because you have to put them somewhere.”

On the subject: What help can immigrants get in New York: useful resources and programs from the city hall

In addition to the plan, Adams said he was in talks with "cities in the state and across the country that say they want to help" resettle some of the Big Apple migrants.

Adams declared a state of emergency over the city's migration crisis in October 2022, and as of early March, the city has processed more than 50 migrants, of which 700-plus live in at least 31 temporary shelters.

Adams' educational program is due to begin in the spring, when migrants will live on the SUNY campus and study English, American culture and personal finance at Sullivan County Community College.

They will also receive parallel training for jobs in areas such as healthcare, cooking and agriculture.

“We hope that they will be interested in this work after a year, but these people can do whatever they want,” said a representative of the Discovery Center.

According to Rosen, the total cost is undetermined, but if the program is successful, Adams "wants to have private philanthropy involved as well, to keep it going for as long as we want it to."

Eleanor Davis, dean of public relations and admissions at SUNY Sullivan, explained that "this has been discussed for some time" since migrants began arriving in New York last year.

Davis clarified that immigrants - all of whom will be specially selected and screened - "remain New Yorkers."

SUNY Sullivan's tuition, fees, room and board rates are currently approximately $12 for a full-time (in-state) student living in a double dorm room.

Most immigrants will live on campus while enrolled in "college micro-certification programs," Davis said, with the rest at the "Discovery Center."

“They will come here, just like the students, live in our dorms and in many cases take year-long certification and training courses,” she continued. – The Discovery Center will bring in staff and vehicles to support. We're really working on it."

SUNY spokeswoman Holly Liapis said, "The program is currently expected to begin this fall and we look forward to seeing the initial results."

“We are excited about the pilot project and applaud SUNY Sullivan for partnering with the City of New York to provide asylum seekers with a path to successful careers, especially in healthcare, where there is a shortage of professionals,” Liapis added.

Issam Edwan, owner of Catskills Arms, said: "I'm concerned about security."

"Is this guy a criminal? He massacred somewhere else, and now he's trying to cross the border? Edvan turned to the society. “If he is a refugee who really needs protection, and he took all the risks to come, we can afford it, by all means.”

True, he then added: “But if someone did something wrong and he runs away, it will become a serious problem.”

Axel Robinson, hairdresser at First Stop, called Adams' plan a "double-edged sword."

“Is this the best solution? No. But would we prefer these people to be on the streets? No, he reasoned. "As long as they support the community and do something good with it, I'm all for it."

The 32-year-old Robinson summed up: “Personally, I am not the kind of person who gives alms to those who are not going to do anything. But we're talking about people here. We're talking about people - people who need a place to eat and a place to stay. And if we as humans can't do that, then that says a lot about our society."

A SUNY Sullivan student who identified herself as 25-year-old Jessica echoed him: "I think it's a great way to give a second chance to people who are really unlucky in life."

“I see these people on the news and it breaks my heart. They lost everything,” she explained. “I think they should all have the opportunity to succeed and become useful members of society. I think it's great that SUNY is giving them this opportunity."