NEW YORK — President Joe Biden plans to announce Wednesday night that he will grant temporary protected status to Venezuelans who arrived in the country before July 2023, according to New York officials briefed on the president’s plans.
The news comes as New York City struggles to feed and house more than 60,000 immigrants, most of whom are ineligible to work under current federal law for at least 180 days after filing an asylum claim. Authorities say about 40% of the immigrants who arrived last year are from Venezuela.
Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul have been pressing Biden to use his executive authority to intervene and grant access to TPS, which would not subject immigrants to the 180-day waiting period. The Biden administration also plans to expedite work authorizations so they are processed within 30 days, according to officials.
The announcement explains why Hochul remained silent on Wednesday when asked for details about her private conversation with Biden on Tuesday night, according to a source in her administration who says the governor was aware this was going to happen.
The New York State Department of Labor already has a plan to connect work-eligible immigrants with job opportunities so that jobs will be available when work documents arrive, according to a state government source.
2023-09-21 00:58:42
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