New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was publicly berated by protestors outside of the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan.
The demonstrators expressed their frustration over the impact of New York City’s migrant crisis during a press conference attended by Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats on Sept. 14.
“Close the border! Close the border! Respect the constitution, AOC! I am your constituent!” shouted a man over a megaphone.
Other protestors yelled “Send them back!” and “Close the border!”
“What we seek to do is to make sure that all the resources are necessary and that we are joining with the city and state,” Ocasio-Cortez yelled over the crowd, per Fox News.
“Illegal immigration is not right! Respect the constitution, close the border!” the man responded.
Ocasio-Cortez told reporters that the cities and municipalities in New York that have been impacted by the sharp increase in migrant populations need additional financial support from the federal government. She also argued that illegal immigrants needed to be provided with work authorizations “so folks in here can get to work and start supporting themselves as soon as possible.”
“They are prevented from getting jobs. They are prevented from employment and that is part of the strain on our public systems,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “The faster that folks can access the work that they are asking for – legally – the better we can solve this problem.”
The representative also called for an extension of temporary protected status for Venezuelans, who represent the largest nationality arriving in the city.
“The American dream will not be bullied,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat after Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks as the crowd continued to chant and yell.
Over 110,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since the spring of 2022, per The New York Times. In May, after more than 61,000 migrants had arrived in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams began busing migrants to the suburbs – angering local officials.
Adams, who said the wave of illegal immigrants will “destroy New York City” during a town hall on Sept. 6, estimated that 10,000 migrants arrive in the city every day.
He and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have both separately appealed to President Joe Biden for additional support. Like Ocasio-Cortez, Adams and Hochul have called for expedited work permits and additional federal funding to alleviate the financial burden incurred by the city and state.
“The City and the State are incurring these unexpected expenditures in the midst of declining tax revenues while costs are rising,” the governor wrote in an August appeal to the Biden administration. “This is a financial burden the City and State are shouldering on behalf of the federal government. While the State appreciates the $145 million contribution that the federal government has made to this effort, this allotment of funds is insufficient. The costs to provide services and assistance to migrants arriving in New York are high and the need for federal assistance is clear.”
