Biden can’t keep acting like nothing is wrong.
Tensions have been mounting between President Biden and Democratic leaders in predominantly blue states who are grappling with the influx of migrants coming from Republican-controlled border states.
According to Fox, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has not held back in criticizing the Biden administration, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul has consistently called on the president to take more action over the past several months. In addition to them, cities like Chicago and Boston, known for their strong Democratic leanings, are feeling the strain caused by Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s transportation program for migrants.
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, revealed that he reached out to President Biden, urging him to do more in response to the crisis. Durbin mentioned that he sent a letter to the president in May and expressed hope for a meaningful response.
Leaders in the business community in New York City also made their concerns known by authoring an open letter addressed to President Biden and Congress, requesting increased federal funding for migrant care. In their letter, they endorsed Governor Hochul’s plea for federal funding to cover expenses related to education, housing, security, and healthcare services, which have been straining local and state budgets due to the limited federal assistance.
The primary request from blue state Democrats revolves around expediting work permits for migrants, enabling them to support themselves rather than relying on city and state resources, such as shelter accommodations.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey aligned herself with Hochul and other Democratic leaders in blue states when she declared a state of emergency concerning immigration issues in August.
While the Biden administration has taken steps to streamline the permitting process for certain migrants, these measures do not go far enough to significantly alleviate the challenges faced by cities like New York City and Chicago.
Typically, migrants who enter the U.S. without authorization are not permitted to work. However, if they apply for asylum, they may become eligible for employment after a waiting period of several months. Migrants who are paroled into the U.S., for instance, through the CBP One app at a port of entry, can also apply for work permits during the duration of their parole.
Despite these measures by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they fall short of the demands made by Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, who are advocating for a federal emergency declaration. Such a declaration would unlock additional funding and lead to broader permit allowances.
Mayor Adams emphasized the need for individuals to have the right to work, which he sees as an American tradition. He also stressed the necessity of an emergency declaration to address the immediate overflow of migrants and secure the required funding. In his words, “When you look at an analysis that was given, it answered none of those prevention…this is the intervention, what you saw. How do we stop this flow?”