Governor Draws Blank at White House Migrant Meeting

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s White House meeting to address the migrant crisis was a bust as she left the closed-door session with no solutions to the problem of 110,000 immigrants camped out in New York City with no place to go.

Following her private get-together with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Hochul had no comment on the two elephants in the room: a federal commitment of funds to pay for migrant services and where they’re going to live and work once they leave their emergency shelters.

In a press appearance following the meeting, Hochul said the main issue of discussion was moving up the 180-day federal waiting period imposed on the new arrivals before they can start working.

“We focused on a number of immediate and tangible actions, including several that would allow more individuals to work legally in the United States, as well as long-term actions to end this crisis,” Hochul said. Aside from the work issue, Hochul did not provide any details on how they expect to end the crisis.

Governor Kathy Hochul addresses New Yorkers on the Asylum Seeker crisis from the Red Room at the State Capitol. Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

Hochul reported that she met in the West Wing for a “frank and productive conversation about how the federal government can, and must, provide additional support to the people of New York as we work to address the ongoing influx of asylum seekers and migrants.” She continued: “As New Yorkers know, securing expedited work authorization for asylum seekers and migrants has been and remains my top priority. It is the only way to help asylum seekers become self-sustaining, so they can move into permanent housing. I am especially pleased that the federal government has agreed to provide personnel, data, and resources to identify the thousands of individuals in New York who are already eligible, but have not yet applied, for work authorization.”

Hochul admits that amending the work rules “is a critical first step but is not enough to fully address this crisis or provide the level of support that New Yorkers need and deserve. That is why in the days ahead I will continue working to secure expedited work authorization for even more individuals, expanded financial support for New York, and long-overdue immigration reforms.”