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Jonathan Steven Bolaños arrived in New York City to search for his biological father and also receive the COVID-19 vaccine. He decided to get the vaccine in New York since his wife and two young children are among thousands waiting for the shot in Colombia. Bolaños is one of many South Americans who came to the city as a vaccine tourist. Back in May, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city wanted to “make it easy” for domestic visitors to be “taken care of” at mobile vaccination sites. But so far, the state doesn’t have a plan to extend its vaccines to international visitors and no exact statistics on how many international visitors are arriving for the shot. THE CITY
In other local immigration news…
How Undocumented Immigrants Can Get HIV/AIDS Treatment in New York
Health care services are provided to all individuals in New York state who have or have been exposed to HIV or AIDS, regardless of their immigration status. New York also has programs to help those who have HIV/AIDS and are uninsured. According to the city’s Health Department, there were 1,772 new HIV cases in 2019, and 91 percent of women and 81 percent men diagnosed were of Black or Latino descent. After talking with service providers, City Limits’ Daniel Parra created a guide for undocumented immigrants with HIV and AIDS in the state. City Limits
Son of Immigrants Likely to Be Next Brooklyn Borough President
On Tuesday night, New York City Councilmember Antonio Reynoso was declared the winner of the 14-candidate race to become the Democratic nominee for Brooklyn Borough President. The win effectively ensures Reynoso will be the next borough president. Back in April, Reynoso called himself “a son of two immigrant parents that got here with very little money.” He also explained that growing up with a Dominican family in South Williamsburg gave him an understanding of what the government could do to help those in need. Gotham Gazette
