The migrant crisis in New York City is reaching critical levels, and a group of influential business executives and CEOs implored President Joe Biden on Monday to take decisive action to remedy the situation.
The letter, signed by over 120 CEOs, including Larry Fink of Blackrock, Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan, Jane Fraser of Citigroup and Charles Scharf of Wells Fargo, was adamant in their request for more federal assistance for the overwhelming migrant crisis.
“The New York business community is deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis that has resulted from the continued flow of asylum-seekers into our country,” the executives wrote to Biden. “The situation is overwhelming the resources not only of the border region but of city and state governments across the nation. We urge you to take immediate action to better control the border and the process of asylum and provide relief to the cities and states that are bearing the burdens posed by the influx of asylum seekers.”
However, the Biden administration appeared to place blame on the state’s Democratic leadership, according to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “The state’s lack of leadership has led to poor organization of resources and failure to plan for the future,” he stated in a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Monday.
Nearly 100,000 migrants are currently located New York State and it led Adams to estimate the cost to the city could be as high as $4.3 billion over two years. Hochul has committed $1.5 billion to try to ease the strain these migrants are causing, however, Adams has accused the governor of refusing state assistance and busing migrants to suburbs.
“Things have reached a crushing peak,” said Adams. “From this moment on is downhill.” As shelters become increasingly overcrowded, many migrants have no choice but to sleep outside in the city. Furthermore, these migrants have to wait 180 days to receive a work permit, which adds even more strain to them and state resources.
The business executives and CEOs who signed the letter to Biden stated, “We cannot allow this humanitarian crisis to grow unchecked and with it the human suffering that accompanies it. We call on the Biden Administration to take action to provide relief and assistance.” The time is now for the Biden administration to respond and provide the necessary assistance to put an end to the burgeoning migrant crisis in New York State.
"The business community supports @GovKathyHochul’s demands for federal intervention to address the humanitarian crisis that is a direct consequence of our nation’s failure to adopt and enforce an effective immigration policy.” — Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for NYC https://t.co/ErhLVMr6YD
— Partnership for New York City (@Partnership4NYC) August 24, 2023
I wish the best of luck to them. Everyday Americans have not been able to move the useless president to act. Who knows, money talks. Maybe they stand a better chance at getting Biden to act and protect Americans.