New York Governor Kathy Hochul is urging the federal government to grant the tens of thousands of migrants who have arrived in New York over the last year working papers.
Governor Kathy Hochul says there's a labor shortage right now in the state after pointing to thousands of job openings in farming, food services and cleaning industries.
"This is a great opportunity here in the state of New York to solve two problems, how to help these people get on their feet and support their families."
Current rules state it takes about six months to get working papers after asylum seekers file for legal status. Mayor Eric Adams says some migrants are working now illegally and not paying into the tax base.