President Biden is facing increasing tension from blue-state Democrats as they grapple with the influx of migrants from Republican border states.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have been vocal in their criticism of the Biden administration's response to the crisis. Other deep blue cities, including Chicago and Boston, are also struggling under the weight of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's bussing program.
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, has reached out to President Biden, urging him to take more action. Durbin wrote to the president in May and expressed his hope for a response. Business leaders in New York City have also joined the chorus, writing an open letter to Biden and Congress, calling for more federal funding for migrant care. The letter, signed by top executives from major companies such as JPMorgan, BlackRock, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs, supports Governor Hochul's request for funding to offset the costs incurred by local and state governments.
The main request from blue state Democrats is for President Biden to expedite work permits for migrants, allowing them to support themselves rather than relying on city and state resources. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency on immigration in August, joining Hochul and other blue state Democrats in their call for action.
While the Biden administration has made efforts to streamline the permitting process for some migrants, the program is not comprehensive enough to have a significant impact on cities like New York City and Chicago. Migrants who enter the U.S. illegally are typically not allowed to work. However, if they apply for asylum, they may become eligible to work after a certain period of time. Migrants who are paroled into the U.S. can also apply for a work permit for the duration of their parole.
The Department of Homeland Security's program falls short of the requests made by Adams and Hochul, who are calling for a federal emergency declaration that would unlock increased funding and broader permitting. Adams emphasized the need for people to have the right to work, which he sees as an American tradition. He also stressed the need for emergency funding and designated locations to handle the overflow of migrants.
The situation at the border continues to be a source of tension between President Biden and blue state Democrats. While some efforts have been made to address the concerns raised by these Democrats, they argue that more needs to be done to alleviate the strain on their cities and states.
The calls for expedited work permits and increased federal funding for migrant care highlight the urgency of the situation. As the debate continues, the impact of the border crisis on both Republican and Democratic states remains a key issue for the Biden administration to address.
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