Top New York Democrats have called on President Joe Biden to grant work permits to unemployed illegal aliens residing in NYC.
Mayor of New York City Eric Adams, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Reps. Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler of New York held a May 22 press conference in Brooklyn with progressive labor and business leaders, reported Politico.
The leading New York Democrats asked the White House to issue special federal work permits for the large numbers of illegal immigrants who have flooded into the state since 2022.
They called for Biden to expedite the process by issuing executive orders without waiting for Congress to allow the illegals, who are currently on public assistance, to be able to work and alleviate financial pressure on social services.
“Without legislation, we can get this done,” said Hochul, referring to the unlikelihood that such a bill to authorize work would pass.
New York State is among the top ten states with the highest unemployment rates in the nation, with a labor participation rate of 60.8 percent, according to government data.
NY Democrats Disagree
New York Democrats have challenged the national party’s silent stance on illegal immigration policy for the first time, a key issue for millions of voters in the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans have made the border crisis a primary talking point for next year’s race, and Democrat strategists fear that infighting on the matter could weaken Biden’s chances.
The Biden reelection campaign booted Adams from the president’s National Advisory Board in retaliation for publicly criticizing the administration’s handling of the crisis along the southern border.
“The president and the White House have failed this city,” Adams said last month at a media event, signaling a split in party ranks. He added that the state’s budget could not handle the crisis and blamed the “national government” for turning “its back on New York City.”
“Every service in this city is going to be impacted by the asylum seeker crisis,” said Adams.
By Bryan Jung
