In the face of record unemployment numbers, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has turned her attention elsewhere — toward illegal aliens who have surged into the Empire State. Hochul’s decision to roll out a new jobs program to benefit these migrants comes as over 380,000 New Yorkers remain jobless, leaving many questioning her priorities.
Due to Joe Biden’s open-border policies, New York has seen tens of thousands of new arrivals, mainly congregating in New York City. The city’s resources are overstretched, leading to public disagreements between Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D). Hochul’s response has been to plead with the federal government for quicker work permits for migrants and launch her own state-run jobs program.
Sorry, unemployed New Yorkers — your government is more concerned about the job prospects of random illegal aliens from across the globe. https://t.co/kx19N7MqXc
— Jon Feere 🇺🇸 (@JonFeere) August 24, 2023
“Today, @NYSLabor is launching a process for asylum seekers to sign up for employment opportunities,” Hochul posted on the X platform, formerly Twitter. The focus on providing jobs for illegal migrants sends a disheartening message to the hundreds of thousands of unemployed New Yorkers who pay taxes and vote in state elections.
Now, the state will be forking out another $20 million to help more than 30,000 asylum seekers file for work permits. These funds are part of a staggering $1.5 billion set aside in this year’s budget to tackle New York City’s migrant crisis. Yet one wonders, where is the billion-dollar budget to resolve the employment crisis for ordinary New Yorkers? Why is there such an eagerness to allocate enormous sums to non-citizens when state residents struggle to make ends meet?
Hochul appears to be passing the buck when she says, “This crisis originated with the federal government, and it must be resolved with the federal government.” However, her subsequent actions, which include a plea to expedite work authorizations for migrants, indicate that she’s willing to take matters into her own hands as long as it benefits those in the country illegally.
The shifting demographics fueled by the influx of migrants also raise questions about the sustainability of public services. New York City is obliged to provide shelter to anyone in need, resulting in a shelter system twice its regular size and stretching the city’s already thin resources.
It’s no wonder many tax-paying New Yorkers are fleeing to red states. They’re not merely escaping high taxes but policies that favor illegal migrants over citizens. At a time when New York’s unemployment rate is stubbornly high, focusing on employment for illegal migrants doesn’t just raise eyebrows; it also questions the wisdom of the state’s leadership.
