Illegals To Be Given Welfare Benefits

(LibertySociety.com) – Nearly 200,000 illegal migrants have arrived in New York City in the last 18 months, placing a strain on the city and state’s finances. Governor Kathy Hochul, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, have repeatedly asked the Biden administration for federal assistance to deal with the influx. Back in November of last year, Adams announced sweeping budget cuts to the NYPD, schools, sanitation programs, and other essential services. Officials admitted at the time that the cuts were due to the city’s illegal migrant crisis.

New reports indicate that thousands of alleged asylum seekers in the state will be provided with payments under a program called “Safety Net Assistance” (SNA) at the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). A rule change implemented by the agency in May 2023 authorized non-citizens “who are considered permanently residing under the color of law” (PRUCOL) to be eligible for the SNA program. The rule noted that the individuals did not qualify for federal benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Family Assistance (FA), or the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

The OTDA declined to provide the specific number of illegal migrants enrolled in the program when asked by the New York Post but said that the update to the program was lawful. However, the office did indicate that 10 percent of illegal migrants residing in the state could receive benefits. ODTA also said that a small amount of the $4.3 billion that Governor Hochul allocated to deal with the crisis was being used for illegal migrant SNA benefits. The New York Post noted that possibly 17,000 migrants could be receiving payments through the program.

New York Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis accused Hochul of enticing illegal migrants to come to the state. She said that lower and middle-income New Yorkers were suffering because of Hochul and Adams’s endless introduction of new programs. Queens Councilman Robert Holden blasted the rule change, stating, “It’s time to end this madness.”