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Dear New Yorkers,

Hundreds of Chinese dissidents seeking asylum in the United States are signing an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump, pleading with him to let them stay after he retakes office in January.

Trump’s pledge to start a mass deportation of immigrants on day one has sent chills down the spines of asylum-seekers from China, many of whom came here to escape alleged political persecution. Some say they fear they will be thrown in prison if they are sent back.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the number of Chinese nationals crossing without papers and encountered by border patrol officers has jumped to 78,000 this year from 23,000 three years earlier.

It’s not clear how Trump would carry out the mass deportation. Military age men from China, whom the President-elect mentioned several times during his campaign, may be placed high on the list.

But overall, Chinese voters in the U.S. have been leaning to the right in elections. Trump won five percentage points more ballots from Asian voters in this election than last time, according to exit polls.

The sentiment may be even stronger among pro-democracy Chinese dissidents. Some newcomers, despite their concerns about the mass deportation, still think Trump is the right choice.

“I am worried about the deportation,” said one asylum-seeker who helped draft the letter. “But I also want him to rescue America.”

Read more here about Chinese asylum-seekers’ letter to Trump.

Weather ☁️

Cloudy today, with highs in the upper 50s. Rain is — finally — expected at night and into Thursday.

MTA 🚇

The 42nd Street shuttle is running overnight today, and more. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Nov. 20.

By the way

A new map allows New Yorkers to trace whether lead pipes are present in their buildings.

Our Other Top Stories

Parking has emerged as a central focus of negotiations on City of Yes, Mayor Eric Adams’ sweeping package of proposed development reforms, ahead of a crucial City Council committee vote Thursday. Here are details of a possible compromise taking shape. The city Department of Investigation has launched a probe into Jesse Hamilton, a longtime associate of the mayor, who put Hamilton in charge of city leases. The inquiry includes a deal that THE CITY has previously reported on: office space at 14 Wall St., where Hamilton intervened in order to rent from a billionaire donor to Adams’ legal defense fund. The city’s policy of setting limits on how long migrant families can stay in shelters has had a devastating effect on kids’ school attendance, advocates told the City Council at a hearing on Tuesday. One in six kids affected by the policy, which was implemented in June, has since left the school system.

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Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Wednesday, Nov. 20: ‘Tis the season for the annual Gingerbread NYC exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, where bakers create incredibly detailed, edible versions of city buildings, blocks and monuments. The exhibit runs through Jan. 12, 2025, and is free with museum admission. Wednesday, Nov. 20: A virtual meetup for community gardeners about how to face climate change and think about preparedness in your neighborhoods. Free from 6 to 7:30 p.m. online. Thursday, Nov. 21: A talk with four contemporary artists whose works were recently added to the Brooklyn Museum’s collection. Tickets: $20 (members $12), from 7 to 9 p.m. at the museum’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium.

THE KICKER: The City Council has passed a resolution declaring Nov. 30 “Shirley Chisholm Day” in NYC, honoring the trailblazing politician just days before what would have been her 100th birthday.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Wednesday.

Love,

THE CITY

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