Wednesday, September 13, 2023 12:04
NEW YORK (WABC)—— New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is trying to issue work permits to tens of thousands of immigrants looking for a new life in New York City.
“My attorney is working on this matter as we speak,” Hochul said Tuesday. “I talked about this at the White House. I said I might do something at the state level.”
On Monday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams directed city agencies to make 5% budget cuts to help deal with the ballooning costs of the immigration crisis.
Adams said no matter how much budget cuts he makes, he can’t solve the immigration crisis at the city level.
“I can’t break the law and say ‘I’m going to allow you to work no matter what,'” Adams said. “Now that people are working, we are creating a black market of low-wage employment. Women are being sexually exploited.”
A Siena College poll released Tuesday found 84 percent of New Yorkers said they agree immigrants come here to build a better life, while only 11 percent disagreed.
“This will be unprecedented,” Hochul said. “I believe the federal government, the federal government, we need to have their authority to move forward with state work permits.”
Even so, work permits for immigrants can take time.
If Governor Hochul reaches an agreement with the federal government to issue a state license, it would also need to be approved by the state Legislature – which would likely require a special session.
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