Feds Call on NYC to Fix Migrant Crisis
The Biden administration has called on New York City to address the ongoing migrant crisis by providing better information to migrants about the immigration process and expediting their departure from city shelters. The recommendations, issued by a team from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), question the effectiveness of New York City’s efforts to house tens of thousands of newcomers.
The DHS team made four main suggestions, including improving the information collected on migrants, providing information on how to apply for work permits and leave the shelter system, and offering lawyers and case managers to help migrants exit the system more quickly. Additionally, the team called on federal officials to provide more information to migrant communities about applying for asylum and work authorization.
Erin Heeter, a spokesperson for the DHS, commended the efforts of New York officials but emphasized the need for collaboration to address the needs of migrants in a humane and orderly manner.
The recommendations did not address the local calls led by Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul for the Biden administration to allow migrants to apply for work permits more quickly by granting them temporary legal status. Local officials argue that this would allow migrants to apply for work permits without having to request asylum and wait six months for work authorization.
The Biden administration has resisted these calls due to concerns about potential lawsuits from Republican-led states and the possibility of encouraging more unlawful border crossings.
DHS officials have identified 11 federal sites in New York that can be used to house migrants and have allowed the use of a federal hangar at John F. Kennedy airport to house up to 800 migrants. Talks are also underway to convert the Floyd Bennett airfield in Brooklyn into a temporary shelter.
While New York is not the only city struggling to house migrants, with Boston, Chicago, and Denver also facing similar challenges, the influx of migrants has tested the commitments of Democratic-led cities to be sanctuaries and exposed political divides on immigration.
The Biden administration has allocated over $700 million in federal funds this fiscal year, including $140 million to New York, to assist and shelter migrants. However, local officials are calling for more funding and a state of emergency declaration to address the pressing challenges they face.
The ongoing migrant crisis is a result of various factors, including the arrival of millions of migrants at the southern border in the past two years, Texas’ efforts to bus migrants to Democratic-led cities, and a shortage of affordable housing.
The Biden administration has implemented programs allowing certain migrants to apply for work permits immediately upon entering the U.S., but these programs do not benefit those already in the country without legal status.
The situation remains complex, and collaboration between federal, state, and local officials is crucial to finding a solution to the migrant crisis in New York City and other affected areas.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News’ immigration reporter, contributed to this article.Feds Call on NYC to Fix Migrant Crisis
The Biden administration has called on New York City to address the ongoing migrant crisis by providing better information to migrants about the immigration process and expediting their departure from city shelters. The recommendations, issued by a team from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), question the effectiveness of the city’s efforts to house tens of thousands of newcomers.
The DHS team made four main suggestions, including improving the information collected on migrants, providing information on how to apply for work permits and leave the shelter system, and offering lawyers and case managers to help migrants exit the system more quickly. Additionally, the team called on federal officials to provide more information to migrant communities about applying for asylum and work authorization.
Erin Heeter, a spokesperson for the DHS, commended New York officials for their exceptional efforts but emphasized the need for collaboration to address the needs of migrants in a humane and orderly manner.
The recommendations did not address the local calls led by Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul for the Biden administration to allow migrants to apply for work permits more quickly by granting them temporary legal status. The administration has resisted these calls due to concerns about potential lawsuits from Republican-led states and encouraging more unlawful border crossings.
DHS officials have identified 11 federal sites in New York that can be used to house migrants and have allowed the use of a federal hangar at John F. Kennedy airport to house up to 800 migrants. Talks are also underway to convert the Floyd Bennett airfield in Brooklyn into a temporary shelter.
While New York is not the only city struggling to house migrants, other large cities like Boston, Chicago, and Denver have also faced challenges due to the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants released by federal border officials. The influx has tested the commitments of Democratic-led cities to be sanctuaries for migrants and exposed political divides on immigration.
The Biden administration has allocated over $700 million in federal funds this fiscal year, including $140 million to New York, to assist and shelter migrants. However, local officials in New York are calling for additional support and funding to address the pressing challenges they face.
The ongoing migrant crisis is a result of various factors, including the arrival of millions of migrants at the southern border, Texas’ efforts to bus migrants to Democratic-led cities, and a shortage of affordable housing. The Biden administration has implemented programs allowing certain migrants to apply for work permits immediately upon entering the U.S., but these programs do not benefit those already in the country without legal status.
The situation remains complex, and collaboration between federal, state, and local officials is crucial to finding a solution that addresses the needs of migrants while maintaining order and efficiency in the immigration process.
How are local officials in New York and other cities affected by the influx of migrants calling for additional funding and assistance from the federal government
Porary legal status. Local officials argue that this would enable migrants to apply for work permits without having to request asylum and wait for six months for work authorization.
The Biden administration has resisted these calls due to concerns about potential lawsuits from Republican-led states and the possibility of encouraging more unlawful border crossings.
DHS officials have identified 11 federal sites in New York that can be used to house migrants and have allowed the use of a federal hangar at John F. Kennedy airport to house up to 800 migrants. Talks are also underway to convert the Floyd Bennett airfield in Brooklyn into a temporary shelter.
While New York is not the only city struggling to house migrants, with Boston, Chicago, and Denver also facing similar challenges, the influx of migrants has tested the commitments of Democratic-led cities to be sanctuaries and exposed political divides on immigration.
The Biden administration has allocated over $700 million in federal funds this fiscal year, including $140 million to New York, to assist and shelter migrants. However, local officials are calling for more funding and a state of emergency declaration to address the pressing challenges they face.
The ongoing migrant crisis is a result of various factors, including the arrival of millions of migrants at the southern border in the past two years, Texas’ efforts to bus migrants to Democratic-led cities, and a shortage of affordable housing.
The Biden administration has implemented programs allowing certain migrants to apply for work permits immediately upon entering the U.S., but these programs do not benefit those already in the country without legal status.
The situation remains complex, and collaboration between federal, state, and local officials is crucial to finding a solution to the migrant crisis in New York City and other affected areas.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News’ immigration reporter, contributed to this article.
