A migrant from the Dominican Republic expressed concerns that New York’s government is not fulfilling its promises to help migrants settle in American neighborhoods with support and employment opportunities.
According to the report, Pena and her children left their home in the Dominican Republic, traveled through El Salvador, and endured a perilous month and a half journey to the U.S. border before crossing into the United States.
Pena, speaking through an interpreter due to her lack of English proficiency, recounted how the treatment she received in New York has been traumatizing for her.
“It’s very traumatic… Rochester no good.”
This illegal migrant crossed into the US a year ago with her children.
For the first few months, she stayed in a free Manhattan hotel.
Now, she was relocated to an apartment in upstate NY. Food/rent is still paid for.
It’s still not… pic.twitter.com/2JnU8Mgxy1
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 18, 2024
After crossing the border, Pena made her way to New York and enrolled in a free housing program in Rochester. Upon arrival, she and her children were accommodated in a Holiday Inn Downtown for four months before being moved to a free duplex.
Pena mentioned that their living space lacks gas and electricity, and she has yet to qualify for a work permit despite being in the U.S. for a year.
Responding to WHEC’s Berkeley Brean about whether she likes the U.S., Pena stated, “Si. But not Rochester… No good Rochester.”
The 2022 Survey of Income & Program Participation indicates that 54% of households headed by immigrants — naturalized citizens, legal residents, & illegal immigrants — used one or more major welfare program, compared to 39% for U.S.-born households.https://t.co/yrdcDxLEVP
— Center for Immigration Studies (@CIS_org) December 19, 2023
To tackle the migrant issue, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) recently approved a $237 billion state budget, allocating an additional $2.4 billion for migrant-related expenses on top of the billions already spent.
This is the sense of entitlement that @NYCMayor created. Citizens of other countries believe that American citizens struggling to pay to keep a roof over their heads are responsible for housing them indefinitely. https://t.co/78EvFCidud
— Office of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (@RepMalliotakis) April 16, 2024
While Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) have introduced measures such as housing time limits for migrants — though allowing them to reapply for housing post-eviction — the spending on Biden’s border crossers continues to escalate.
