New York Considers State Work Permits for Migrants as Influx Worsens
Frustrated by the federal response to the migrant crisis, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Tuesday that New York state was considering ways to issue work permits to asylum-seekers in a bid to circumvent the long wait for permits at the federal level.
Such a drastic step would make New York the first state to openly test federal law, underscoring the depth of a crisis that has sent over 100,000 migrants to New York City over the past year.
The move, which would likely be challenged in court, could also escalate tensions between President Joe Biden and Democratic leaders in New York, who have increasingly criticized his handling of the situation.
“This would be unprecedented,” Huchul said at a news conference in her Manhattan office. “I believe the federal government believes that we need to have their authority to move forward with state work permits, but, as I’ve said, we have to let them work.”
Lawmakers in Albany have introduced bills that would create a state-level worker permit program for individuals who have filed federal paperwork claiming asylum. Huchul, a Democrat, has not endorsed any particular bill and stressed that her lawyers were still exploring multiple ideas. She said she would meet with the state’s legislative leaders on Tuesday, and did not rule out calling a special session in Albany to pass legislation.
Earlier Tuesday, White House officials pushed back against a state-level work permit system. In a call with reporters, senior administration officials said that work permits were “very clearly a federal authority,” adding that workarounds were “not something that we would encourage states to pursue.”
Instead, the officials said they were focused this month on helping the city and state accelerate the permit application process for migrants who were already eligible to work but had not yet filled out the necessary paperwork. The White House was unable to say how many migrants in the city are in that category, but said the number was substantial.
The officials spoke anonymously to discuss the Biden administration’s efforts to assist New York.
The debate around work permits comes at a critical moment for New York City. An estimated 59,000 migrants are still in city shelters. As space and resources dwindle, New York’s leaders are increasingly concerned services could buckle, with grave humanitarian and political implications.The debate around work permits comes at a critical moment for New
York City. An estimated 59,000 migrants are still in city shelters. As
space and resources dwindle, New York’s leaders are increasingly
concerned services could buckle, with grave humanitarian and political
implications.59,000 immigrants are currently staying in temporary shelters in New York City. Support and space
for immigrants are rapidly decreasing due to the influx of immigrants, and New York State and the city are concerned that
if services for them run out, a humanitarian and political crisis will arise.24th Sept. 1945, a ship carrying Japan’s forced labor survivors returning to Korea with the joy of liberation sank due to a mysterious explosion. Which took forcibly mobilized Koreans from big city and Hokkaido in Japan two days before sinking in Kyoto, Japan.
Immigrants lined up to go through immigration procedures outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, New York, USA, on the 1st of last month (local time). New York State Governor Cathy announced that she would push for a plan where the state would directly issue work permits to immigrants who applied for refugee status. [New York Times]
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