Midtown Manhattan (WABC) — What was supposed to be the latest news about New York’s immigration crisis was quickly drowned out by protesters in Midtown on Friday as chants of closing the southern border left New York state representatives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez struggling to speak.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ news conference outside the Roosevelt Hotel’s Immigrant Welcome Center lasted just seven minutes and was greeted with these chants.
The caucus wants to increase federal resources for New York City and expedite federal approval of work authorizations.
That’s consistent with the message from Mayor Eric Adams, who joined Eyewitness News @10 this week and said work permits are his top priority.
“What we’re doing to immigrants is wrong,” he said. “The prerequisite for sleep that allows us to experience the American Dream is the right to work.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Adams announced on Friday that the federal government and New York City had reached an agreement to use Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Airport to shelter immigrants, an issue that also sparked protests.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants to create a federal agreement to issue state work permits that would be unprecedented.
Temporary protected status for Venezuelans is as important to her as work permits, she said.
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez wants to expand the temporary protection of statues to include asylum seekers from other countries.
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus said during a tour of immigration processing centers on Friday that they want to continue to believe there is hope for immigrants.
“We’ve seen a lot of heartbreaking stories, and it’s manifested here,” said Rep. Adriano Espelat. “We’re seeing children, families, people who want to work, people who are fleeing violence, people who are fleeing environmental disaster.”
Currently, there are more than 59,000 asylum seekers in New York City shelters.
“The American dream will not be bullied into submission today,” Espelat said. “We will continue to fight for the American dream.”
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