Kathy Hochul urges Biden to address NY immigrant crisis.
Gov. Hochul Urges President Biden to Provide Federal Resources for New York’s Migrant Crisis
In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) passionately appealed for federal assistance to tackle the pressing migrant crisis in New York City. She emphasized the urgent need for funding in crucial areas such as education, transportation, healthcare, and housing assistance, as the city has seen an influx of over 100,000 asylum-seekers since last spring.
A Plea for Federal Aid
“For over a year, I have called for federal assistance and support for New York as we manage the unprecedented number of asylum-seekers arriving in our state,” expressed Hochul in a statement. “New York cannot continue to do this on its own. It is past time for President Biden to take action and provide New York with the aid needed to continue managing this ongoing crisis.”
The governor highlighted the significant costs incurred by the city and state in providing essential necessities such as transportation, food, and lodging for the asylum-seekers. Hochul pointed out that the only obstacle preventing these immigrants from finding employment was the bureaucratic red tape surrounding work authorizations, which the federal government has been slow to approve.
“Asylum seekers are looking for jobs, and employers are looking for workers — all that’s missing is the legal work status to make that a reality,” Hochul emphasized in a series of posts on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “The federal government must expedite work authorizations so that people can immediately begin working.”
Reimbursement and Access to Federal Facilities
In addition to financial aid, Hochul also requested reimbursement for the deployment of nearly 2,000 national guardsmen to the city and access to federal facilities within the state to accommodate the growing number of immigrants.
The Cost of the Crisis
The governor’s plea for aid aligns with New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ prediction that the migrant crisis could cost the city a staggering $12 billion by 2025 if the influx of immigrants continues at the current rate. While Hochul did not provide a specific price tag in her request, the state has already allocated over $1.5 billion to the city and may be required to contribute an additional $4.5 billion next year, based on current estimates.
“Without any capacity or responsibility to address the cause of the migrant influx, New Yorkers cannot then shoulder these costs,” Hochul wrote. “I cannot ask New Yorkers to pay for what is fundamentally a federal responsibility, and I urge the federal government to take prompt and significant action today to meet its obligation to New York State.”
The federal government has already provided $145 million in direct funding for New York’s migrant crisis and recently approved lodging for asylum-seekers at Floyd Bennett Field.
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