Following an influx of over 100,000 asylum seekers into New York City, a collective of more than 120 CEOs, including Jamie Dimon from JPMorgan, Larry Fink from BlackRock, and Jane Fraser from Citigroup, have composed a letter directed at President Biden and Congress. This letter, penned by the Partnership for New York City, urges federal intervention to address the challenges arising from this situation.
The open letter emphasizes that the resources of border states and various city and state governments across the nation are being overwhelmed by the scale of the situation. It stresses that immigration policies and border control fall under the federal government’s purview, making it a federal responsibility. The Partnership for New York City contends that state and local governments lack authority.
Mayor Eric Adams is worried that accommodating and providing for these migrants could cost over $12 billion by July 2025. Such expenditures could jeopardize the city’s capacity to cater to its 8 million residents by hindering the provision of essential goods and services.
In response to the influx, New York City has previously called on neighboring municipalities to share the housing burden and support the new arrivals. Mayor Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul of New York have advocated for a comprehensive national response orchestrated by the federal government to guide migrants toward a future beyond New York’s care.
The letter implores swift action to enhance border control, streamline the asylum process, and extend relief to cities and states grappling with the consequences of the influx of asylum seekers. Notable signatories include Pfizer Inc. CEO Albert Bourla and Tishman Speyer Properties LP CEO Rob Speyer, cochairpersons of the Partnership for New York City.
While New York City strives to connect these newcomers with employment opportunities, they face the challenge of not having legal work status until their immigration cases are processed. Officials are exploring avenues such as offering migrants construction jobs, facilitating access to NYC identification cards and linking them with legal clinics to navigate authorization formalities. However, local and state leaders are advocating for assistance from the Biden administration, including expediting the work authorization procedure.
In a separate letter addressed to President Biden, New York Governor Hochul has suggested that executive actions, such as extending Temporary Protected Status for countries like Venezuela, could expedite work authorizations and alleviate the situation.
Simultaneously, protests have erupted against the placement of migrants in various parts of the city. Representative Nicole Malliotakis has suggested that if the Mayor fails to address the issue adequately, Staten Island should secede.
Governor Hochul has already directed $1.5 billion and nearly 2,000 National Guard members toward addressing the situation. Nevertheless, asylum seekers continue to cause disruptions, with some even congregating near Wall Street offices.
Critics have deemed the Biden administration’s response to be inadequate. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ proposal to utilize federal sites far removed from the city’s core has been met with skepticism, as it seems to shift the issue away rather than providing a substantive solution. This apparent lack of effective action has raised concerns about the fate of lives and resources at stake.
Adding a political dimension, it’s worth noting that Wall Street executives are significant Democratic donors, which might influence their ability to leverage political influence to address the situation more comprehensively.