New Jersey will spend $2.5 million in federal funds to help migrants arriving in New Jersey find work.

The money will go to the New Jersey Department of Human Services for efforts to reach newly arrived immigrants who are eligible to apply for a work permit, according to an announcement by the state.

Over the next few months, the Department’s Office of New Americans will do outreach and education. The office also provides application assistance to help immigrant workers navigate the eligibility determination process and applications for waivers of the $410 processing fee, the department said last week.

Help for migrants seeking work in NJ

The state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development has also set up a website – https://www.nj.gov/labor/ayuda – for newly arrived migrants looking for work and employers looking to hire.

Some individuals may be eligible for a fee waiver if their household income is at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines at the time of filing or if they are facing financial hardship or receive a means-tested benefit such as Medicaid, the state said.

According to data from the American Immigration Council, over 470,000 undocumented immigrants reside in New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement about the state’s initiatives, “I thank the Biden administration for enabling these efforts to ensure new arrivals to our state and country have access to the American Dream.”

A change in tone

The tone was different from several weeks ago, when Murphy and other officials rejected a federal proposal for the Atlantic City International Airport to house migrants who have filled tent cities, churches, and other facilities in New York City to overflow.

Murphy said during a News 12 New Jersey appearance in August that he did not see “any scenario” where the relocation could happen in Atlantic City or anywhere else in the state. He said he was not told by Biden administration officials about the proposal and the state would need enormous federal support for it to happen.

The opposition from politicians met with backlash from immigrant advocates, who said comments from local officials about migrants were hateful. But the advocates also took issue with the federal proposal for being poorly thought-out and insufficient to deal with the influx of migrants.

Immigration: state-blocks-plan-for-asylum-seekers/70770447007/” data-ylk=”slk:While Murphy balks at asylum seekers, these groups are already settling them in NJ;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link “>While Murphy balks at asylum seekers, these groups are already settling them in NJ

Who’s eligible for new programs

The new programs are meant to help “newly arrived migrants authorized to lawfully work in the United States,” Murphy’s administration said in the latest announcement, noting that employers are responsible for verifying that workers are allowed to hold jobs in the county.

“These efforts help protect the safety of migrant arrivals who have escaped dire situations in their home countries, and allow them get their work permits sooner so they can seek employment,” the departments continued. “These individuals have been lawfully permitted to enter the country through the CBP One App, a free online tool available to migrants in Central and Northern Mexico to  schedule appointments for processing at a Point of Entry along the Southwest Border.”

Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @ricardokaul

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: State spends $2.5M to help migrants get jobs in NJ. See who’s eligible