New York's Democratic Governor, Kathy Hochul, has declared her intention to journey to Washington, D.C., this Friday.
Her mission is to implore both Congress and the White House to arrive at an agreement concerning border security.
Governor Hochul, who has previously advocated for New York as a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants, made this announcement during her budget proposal presentation on Tuesday. She stated, "I am once again heading to D.C. on Friday to advocate for effective immigration reform, a stronger border, and increased support from the federal government for New York."
Governor Hochul highlighted the strain on New York, which is currently providing shelter to over 69,000 migrants. She reiterated her stance that the federal government should take primary responsibility for addressing this crisis. "Congress, the House of Representatives in particular and the White House, must remain at the negotiating table until they restore the rule of law at our border, fix our asylum system, and provide relief to states like New York, who have been shouldering this burden for far too long," she said.
The Governor also expressed her concern about the ongoing influx of new arrivals, stating, "Until we see a change in federal policy that slows the flow of new arrivals, we're going to be swimming against the tide."
In her budget proposal, Governor Hochul included a $2.4 billion allocation to manage the massive influx of migrants into New York. She described this as the "right thing to do" for both the migrants and New York City. "We also know that companies won't do business in New York if there are thousands of people sleeping on the streets, where the quality of life is dramatically impacted, because the city is forced to cut essential services," she said.
Governor Hochul also emphasized her commitment to continue focusing on security work authorizations and to put migrants and asylum workers to work. "Put them to work, that's exactly what they came here for," she said.
The Governor, who once again championed New York as a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants, reiterated that the responsibility for the immigration crisis lies with the federal government. "As the migrant crisis continues, the FY 2025 Executive Budget extends an additional $2.4 billion to continue to support efforts in New York City and elsewhere in the state to safely manage the influx with the appropriate humanitarian response," reads Hochul's budget proposal.
The surge of migrants into New York could potentially pose a political risk for Democratic candidates, as the state is anticipated to be a battleground in the upcoming election season.
Governor Hochul's budget proposal was presented a week after her State of the State address, where she outlined her 2024 agenda. This included proposals aimed at curbing retail theft, improving mental health treatment, and providing funding and incentives to increase the housing supply.
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