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Resident warns York City to prepare for temporary-visa cancellations affecting thousands
Summary
A York resident warned the council that recent federal cancellations of temporary visas could leave thousands of legally present residents without benefits or work rights and urged the city to prepare emergency supports; council took the comment for follow-up.
Michael Walker, a York resident, told the council on April 1 that a federal action cancelling temporary visas will take effect in two phases beginning in May and continuing into August and that York could face a rapid increase in housing instability and service needs.
Walker said the cancellations affect an estimated 9,000 to 12,000 people in the area who hold temporary visas and that benefits and work authorizations will stop when the cancellations take effect. He expressed concern that Haitian residents in particular lack an organized local service center comparable to other immigrant communities and that outreach and planning are inadequate in the community. Walker urged the council and administration to prepare for evictions, increased demand for food assistance and greater exposure to federal enforcement.
Council response
The council acknowledged Walker’s remarks and the clerk thanked him; no formal action was taken at the meeting. A later public commenter noted that the YMCA’s welcoming center and Jose Santiago offer referral services for people seeking assistance.
Clarifying notes
Walker described the cancellations as occurring in two swaths with dates discussed in his remarks (a May date and a later date in August), but the council did not provide administrative details or specific city contingency plans during the meeting. No city funding or formal emergency measures were adopted at this session.
