Democrat leaders from major U.S. cities are urging the Biden administration to revise its immigration policies.

A number of prominent heads of large American cities are expressing concerns about the current immigration approach taken by President Joe Biden. Particularly, they are apprehensive about the surge in migrants coming from Republican border states and the strain on state and local resources, as reported by Fox News.

NYC Mayor voices concerns

New York City Mayor Eric Adams did not mince words when criticizing the Biden administration on the issue.

His concerns echo those of Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has been pushing the president to intervene more actively for some time. In a recent press conference, Adams stated:

We need people to have the right to work, which is an American tradition. We need an emergency declaration.

Cities like Chicago and Boston are also feeling the strain caused by, among other things, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's program in which migrants are sent north on buses.

Cities in the affected areas are witnessing an unprecedented influx of migrants, adding significant pressure on infrastructure and services.

Appeals from senior Democrats

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) conveyed his concerns to President Biden and expected that the administration will take an immediate action to tackle the crisis. Durbin said:

I wrote to him in May, so it's been like four months. But I hope to find out.

Furthermore, prominent business leaders from New York City have joined the chorus of voices.

They took the step of penning an open letter to the president and Congress, seeking additional federal funding. The group stated in the letter:

We write to support the request made by New York Governor Hochul for federal funding for educational, housing, security, and health care services to offset the costs that local and state governments are incurring with limited federal aid.

Signatories included top executives from major firms such as JPMorgan, BlackRock, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs.

Seeking work permits for migrants

The core ask from these blue state Democrats is straightforward: speed up the work permit process for migrants.

This would enable migrants to be self-sufficient, thus alleviating the pressure on city and state resources.

As of now, migrants who enter the U.S. illegally are unable to legally work.

Yet, if they apply for asylum, they can eventually work after a few months.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is another Democrat leader who has expressed concerns.

In August, she declared a state of emergency on immigration, aligning her stance with that of Gov. Hochul and other Democrat state leaders.

Administration's response and shortcomings

While the Biden administration has undertaken efforts to streamline the permitting process for some migrants, many believe they have been insufficient.

The initiatives do not seem to meet the growing demands of cities like New York City and Chicago.

Moreover, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) current program doesn't match the scale of the needs articulated by leaders like Adams and Hochul.

They are urging for a federal emergency declaration. Such a move would pave the way for additional funding and a broader permitting system.

Adams highlighted the need for holistic solutions, saying:

We need locations to deal with the overflow right now, and we need funding. How do we stop this flow?

Conclusion

• Major Democrat leaders, especially from deep blue cities, are pushing back against the Biden administration's immigration approach.
• New York City and other cities are feeling the strain due to increased numbers of migrants.
• Leading business figures are also voicing concerns, seeking more federal assistance.
• The primary request is to hasten the work permit issuance for migrants.
• The current efforts from the Biden administration are deemed not enough to address the crisis at hand.