Comptroller Stringer Releases Bengali Edition Of Immigrant Rights And Services Manual

Manual has now been translated into Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Haitian Creole

(New York, NY) – On Saturday, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer was joined by community leaders and elected officials on a tour of businesses in Jackson Heights to distribute the first copies of a Bengali-language version of the Comptroller’s “Immigrant Rights and Services Manual,” a comprehensive guide to city, state, and federal services for immigrant families, students, workers, and entrepreneurs.

The 70-page guide has been translated into Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and now Bengali and is being translated into a number of other languages. The manual outlines the real-life impact of recent legislation and policy changes, such as IDNYC, the new municipal identification card, and Local Laws 58 and 59, which restrict the city’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“I am proud to announce that Bengali-speaking New Yorkers now have their own edition of my office’s Immigrant Rights and Services Manual,” Comptroller Stringer said. “In a City as big as ours, information is power – the Bangladeshi community can use this guide to help connect to essential health, legal, social, and educational resources across the five boroughs. Our City has welcomed and celebrated immigrants for centuries, and this manual is an important part of that tradition.”

“The character of the great Borough of Queens has always been shaped by the tremendous economic, social, cultural and civic contributions from immigrants hailing from all over the world, including Bangladesh. Queens is committed to enhancing access to services that are available to all New Yorkers and their families. The new Bengali edition of Comptroller Stringer’s Immigrant Rights and Services Manual will enhance access to key services for this growing community,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

“Translating this manual into Bengali ensures that this community knows its rights and has access to appropriate services,” said Council Member Rory I. Lancman. “This resource, which has important information on IDNYC and the city’s interaction with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will be useful to many of my constituents.”

“I’m thrilled to see that the Immigrant Rights and Services Manual will be made available in Bengali,” said Council Member Brad Lander. “The Bengali speaking community is a growing and vibrant part of New York City, and it’s essential that this population has access to information about the many federal, state, and city services available. Thank you to Comptroller Stringer for supporting the needs of Bengali speakers across New York. From Kensington to Queens and everywhere between, removing the language barrier to this excellent resource will provide tens of thousands of New Yorkers with the tools needed to succeed.”

“Immigrant New Yorkers are often completely unaware of city, state and federal governmental services due to language barriers,” said New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, Elmhurst). “I want to thank Comptroller Stringer for offering this invaluable resource in Bengali, thereby allowing our Bengali-speaking residents access to services they need to live happy, healthy lives.”

“As someone who represents one of the largest Bengali populations in New York, this new Immigrants Rights and Services Manual printed in Bengali is of vital importance,” said Assemblyman David Weprin. “Navigating New York City’s many services and resources can be overwhelming for someone who is new to the United States. Providing a guide to city, state and federal services in Bengali will certainly be empowering for many individuals. As we know, New York City has always been a place of great opportunity for immigrants. This manual reinforces this reputation for our resident Bengali communities and I applaud Comptroller Stringer for making it available.

The manual includes sections on:

• Language access rights – An overview of how city agencies are required to provide language access under Local Law 73 and Mayor’s Executive Order 120;
• Public benefits – Information on the wide range of public benefits and programs available to immigrants, including the areas of health care, public schools, and housing;
• Immigrants’ rights and protections – A description of workers’ rights (such as prevailing wages and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations), consumer and financial rights, anti-discrimination protections, and the dangers of immigration consultant fraud;
• Voting and civic participation – A summary of how immigrants can become involved in civic life, from filing taxes to attending and joining community boards;
• Resource directory – A list of government agencies, community organizations, and other resources that can help immigrants obtain benefits and services and enforce their rights; and
• Deportation and detention – An in-depth overview of who can be deported and why, including when New York City does and does not cooperate with ICE, and the legal resources and assistance immigrants can access for these proceedings.

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