Gov. Hochul addresses migrant crisis, says number of people arriving in NYC declining
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
by Conor Wight
Wed, August 28th 2024 at 5:25 PMGov. Kathy Hochul took questions on the migrant issue at the NYS Fair (Photo by CNY Central)
TOPICS:
MigrantsNew York CityGov. HochulEmploymentAsylumUpstateCrisisBorder
GEDDES, N.Y. — In Syracuse for the New York State Fair, Gov. Kathy Hochul shared with reporters on Wednesday that the number of migrants coming into New York State is dropping as efforts continue to find them legal paths to employment.
According to the governor, 4,000 migrants per week were arriving in New York City at the height of the crisis. Now, that number has dropped to around 800.
"We're seeing a huge decline in the number of individuals coming to our city and our state," Gov. Hochul said, "they are adapting the communities have been great, i want to commend all of our upstate communities who've welcomed them with open arms."
The democratic leader said the individuals who ended up leaving New York City, primarily staying downstate, have all filed the proper paperwork for asylum and eventually employment. While the New York State Department of Labor does not have concrete numbers on how many asylum seekers are now employed, the agency has begun working with nearly 10,400 individuals to start connecting them with job opportunities. Gov. Hochul said this is critical as migrants can help fill important jobs throughout the state, with 1,280 businesses touting the need for over 46,000 employees in health care, manufacturing, retail, food service, construction and janitorial sectors.
The biggest hurdle at the moment is federal red tape and the time it takes to get asylum approved, according to the governor.
"They have to bring in judges from elsewhere, its a lengthy process," Gov. Hochul said, "Upstate, these individuals are in line and are in the process to be able to work legally."
The update comes as county governments throughout Central New York continue to renew emergency orders first imposed last summer intended to legally block New York City from sending migrants upstate without explicit local consent.
Central New York is closing the door: Counties are blocking NYC from sending migrants
Republican Congressman Brandon Williams, representing the Syracuse area in the NY22 district, applauded those ongoing efforts.
"New York City has tried as hard as possible to export the migrant crisis in New York City to Upstate New York," Rep. Williams said.
According to the Congressman, also visiting the fairgrounds on Wednesday, Gov. Hochul is mishandling the migrant issue - an extension of his repeated criticism of President Joe Biden's border policies.
Rep. Williams pivoted to what he describes as a failure of the Biden administration when CNY Central asked about whether he has policy ideas to help assist migrants find work in Upstate New York, people who came to the border fleeing violence or extreme poverty back home.
"The first step is to secure the southern border and the northern border. We have an inflow of migrants coming across the northern border as well," Rep. Williams said.
In February, Rep. Williams announced that he intended to vote "no" on a bipartisan border security bill orchestrated under President Biden that never ended up making it to the House; instead, the congressman's republican colleagues in the Senate killed the bill via a filibuster.
In June, President Biden issued an executive order intended to stop illegal crossings and put further restrictions on applying for asylum, which has lead to a decline in the number of people entering New York City. The delays in the application process in New York leave tens of thousands of people at risk of ending up undocumented, according to reporting by the New York Times.
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Down from 4,000 to 800...
Cuz they are all going/staying in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Few for Texas to bus.
That isn't true. There are lots less refugees coming...
Don't burst their bubble, they have so few reliable talking points left.
In your wildest dreams....
Meanwhile, here in Colorado, Venezuelan gangs are taking over whole apartment buildings in Aurora, which borders Denver to the east.
That's due to the city and country of Denver welcomes these "newcomers".
Aurora police say Venezuelan criminal gang is impacting migrant community | Colorado | thecentersquare.com
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I live 6 blocks from the AZ/Mexico border and I beg to differ with you. I have CBP as friends and neighbors that say otherwise. The getaway rate has remained constant as well.
I was about to say the same thing. Just another smoke an mirrors thing. It has not declined nationwide, they are just sending them elsewhere or the illegals are choosing to stay closer to the border.
The word on NY has gotten out in the migrant community.