Sunshine Sentinel

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appealed to President Biden for federal assistance in managing the surge of asylum seekers in New York, seeking support to address the growing humanitarian and logistical challenges, her office said in a press release.

"The Biden administration can no longer be absent on issues that demand federal coordination," Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said in a concurrent press release.

Hochul penned an urgent letter to President Joe Biden on August 24, appealing for a comprehensive federal response to address the humanitarian crisis stemming from the arrival of more than 100,000 asylum seekers in the state over the past year.

In the letter, Governor Hochul outlined key steps she believes the federal government should take to mitigate the situation. She stressed the need for the federal government to "take executive action and direct significant financial assistance" to help manage the crisis effectively.

The governor called on the Biden administration to expedite work authorizations for asylum seekers. "New York has a very strong job market, and the state is committed to providing job placement services to those who have work authorization," she said. According to her, expediting work authorizations would help migrants settle into communities more quickly.

Hochul emphasized the financial burden on the state, indicating that the crisis could cost New York State an additional $4.5 billion next year, while New York City Mayor Eric Adams projects that the cost to the city will be $12 billion. The governor said federal financial support is essential, as both the city and state are managing these unexpected expenditures amid declining tax revenues and rising costs.

Hochul urged the federal government to identify, prepare, and operate new shelter sites on federally-owned assets. The New York City shelter system is reportedly overwhelmed, caring for over 58,500 asylum seekers and migrants. Hochul also called for federal reimbursement for the deployment of the National Guard, a cost currently borne by the state.

"We stand with Governor Kathy Hochul in her call for President Biden to expedite work authorizations for our newest New Yorkers," Awawdeh said.

Hochul ended her letter by urging President Biden to "take prompt and significant action today to meet its obligation to New York State."