What you should know
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is stepping up his calls for the White House to expedite work permits for thousands of asylum seekers. Adams joined dozens of elected leaders in Lower Manhattan on Thursday calling for immigrants in the city are allowed to work as more people continue to arrive. They weren’t the only ones raising their voices, though: There was a small but vocal group trying to drown out that message. There were conflicting views on an issue that has New York locked in a showdown with the federal government that erupted Thursday at the American rally Dream Works in Foley Square.
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is intensifying his calls for the White House to expedite work permits for thousands of asylum seekers.
Adams joined dozens of elected leaders in Lower Manhattan on Thursday calling for immigrants in the city to be allowed to work as more people continue to arrive. However, they weren’t the only ones raising their voices: there was a small but vocal group trying to drown out that message.
There were conflicting views on an issue that has New York locked in a showdown with the federal government that erupted Thursday at the American Dream Works rally in Foley Square.
“We’re saying we need to speed up work visas. It’s just common sense,” Adams said, referring to the more than 100,000 asylum seekers who have crossed the border and sought refuge in New York City over the past year.
Carlos, who arrived from Peru three months ago, was present at the rally to ask that work visas be expedited, saying that he wants to work.
TPS allows people from certain countries to get that opportunity faster, and general federal rules mandate a 150-day waiting period for asylum seekers, a period of time that the crowds poured into Foley Square, which was packed with members. of unions, says that asylum seekers do not have, further adding that there are thousands of job vacancies.
“There are plenty of jobs for them. They are not taking jobs from anyone,” said a protester at the rally.
Nora Danielson Lanier, a Brooklyn mom holding a sign that read “LET OUR NEW NEIGHBORS FEED THEIR KIDS!” agrees.
“I wanted to show my kids how to stand up for what’s right and welcome our neighbors,” said Lanier, who supports work permits for asylum seekers.
This week, Governor Kathy Hochul was in Washington DC to speak with members of the Biden administration. She called it a “frank” and “productive” conversation, adding that the president and staff agreed to provide resources to identify immigrants who already have work authorization.
“This is a critical first step, but make no mistake: it is not enough to fully address this crisis,” Hochul said in a statement.
Not everyone in Lower Manhattan supported the vision of the governor and mayor on Thursday. Police escorted a handful of these protesters. One told our sister network News 4 New York that he is not against immigration, but rather that he is against allowing border crossers to get in front of the line. While another said it’s about the more than a billion dollars the city has spent.
“[Adams] he’s ruining the city budget on purpose,” Jonathan Rinaldi, a Republican candidate for New York City Council, was heard shouting. “This has nothing to do with immigration.”
While on stage, the mayor said the city spent that money to fulfill its obligation as a sanctuary city and then demanded that the White House step up.
“Go out on the field and fight this battle with us,” Adams said.
Not all asylum seekers are from Spanish-speaking countries: some are also from Africa and island nations.
Several local, state and federal leaders told NBC 4 New York that discussions on the matter are ongoing.
2023-09-01 02:17:13
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