Staff Reports
In a bold display of defiance, New York Mayor Eric Adams joined with illegal immigrants on Monday to urge the Biden administration to expedite the processing of work permits for those seeking to stay in the country. The mayor noted that finding a job is the key to helping these individuals get off the welfare system. However, according to the administration, the migrants are simply not signing up for the permits.
During a meeting with officials from New York, the White House revealed that only 20% of the immigrants who were brought into the country under the policies of Biden have requested work permits. The administration has promised to launch a public relations campaign to encourage people to look for legal work. However, despite the efforts, Mr. Adams still maintains that the federal government should fight this battle.
The controversy over work permits has become a central issue in the immigration mess that President Biden has created in the U.S.
Instead of focusing on stopping the flow of immigrants, the mayor noted that the federal government should provide more resources to help New York's safety net. Work permits could be used as a way to help these individuals leave the system faster.
Aside from the mayor, other state officials have also urged the federal government to issue work permits. Governors JB Pritzker of Illinois and Kathy Hochul of New York have supported the idea. Members of Congress have shown their willingness to address the issue.
Illegal immigrants who were released under the authority of Alejandro Mayorkas, the head of US Homeland Security, are currently required to wait six months before they can apply for work permits. According to Hochul, granting temporary protected status to these individuals would make them eligible to work immediately.
NYC demands Biden fast-track migrant work permits so they can compete for jobshttps://t.co/EN3kkJYDjw pic.twitter.com/GZ3IOy6C54
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) August 31, 2023
The White House claimed that the real issue is how many eligible migrants are signing up for work permits.
Unfortunately, even those who were already eligible for work permits are not signing up for them. To address this issue, the White House will launch a campaign that will involve sending text messages to illegal immigrants.
According to a demographer, a significant number of unauthorized immigrants who have not applied for work permits may be working illegally. Before the recent border surge, this figure was estimated to be around five million.
Former US Immigration and Citizenship Services official Robert Law said that sanctuary cities are prioritizing the hiring of illegal immigrants over the need to find jobs for Americans.
Law noted that allowing these immigrants to work could also encourage them to settle their debts to the criminal organizations operating in the US. Despite the concerns about the effects of the policy on the local economy, the mayor of New York is still determined to continue supporting the migrants.
It is important to note that the majority of the new immigrants are not genuine asylum seekers. They are simply looking for better economic opportunities in the US. According to the mayor, their main reason for seeking asylum is not considered valid under US law. During a rally, the mayor also compared the people who are against illegal immigration to Nazis and segregationists.
As a mayor, Adams should be aware that the federal government is responsible for addressing the border crisis. He should instead be advocating for comprehensive immigration reform that includes better border security measures.
