


New York City’s top business leaders demanded Monday that President Biden take full ownership of the overwhelming migrant crisis plaguing the Big Apple by speeding up work authorization permits for the tens of thousands of asylum seekers pouring in.
In a letter fired off to the president and members of Congress, more than 100 Big Apple execs urged Biden to get a grip on the US border and provide much-needed financial relief to cities — like New York — that are bearing the brunt of a national migrant crisis.
“Immigration policies and control of our country’s border are clearly a federal responsibility; state and local governments have no standing in this matter,” in the letter, helmed by the Partnership for New York City.
“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 letter was signed by 114 high-profile execs, including Pfizer chairman Albert Bourla, Tishman Speyer CEO Rob Speyer, JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon, Macy’s chairman Jeff Gennette and Citi CEO Jane Fraser.
The top-tier execs said their calls for help echoed demands made by Gov. Kathy Hochul last week when she insisted the feds offer up additional cash to offset the outrageous cost of housing migrants, as well as expedite work permits.
“There are labor shortages in many US industries, where employers are prepared to offer training and jobs to individuals who are authorized to work in the United States,” the business leaders wrote.
“The business community is also providing in-kind assistance and philanthropic support to organizations that are addressing the immediate needs of this largely destitute population.”
They noted that bipartisan action by the Biden admin and Congress was the ultimate way to resolve immigration issues — but acknowledged “that will take time.”
“In the interim, 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,” the leaders wrote.
The business leaders’ involvement in the migrant crisis comes after Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have repeatedly begged the Biden administration for extra help.
More than 104,400 migrants have poured into the Big Apple since Spring 2022 and 59,400 of them are currently being put up in the more than 200 city-run shelters scattered across the five boroughs.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration on Monday scoffed at the notion it’s to blame for any of the city’s migrant crisis.
In letters sent to both Adams and Hochul, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas instead offered up “recommendations” for the Big Apple and state to take on board and better handle the mounting crisis.
“The structural issues include governance and organization of the migrant operations, including issues of authority, structure, personnel, and information flow,” Mayorkas wrote.
“The operational issues include the subjects of data collection, planning, case management, communications, and other aspects of day-to-day operations.”