Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) and New York City Councilman Joe Borelli slammed Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s announcement that New York State will provide $27 million in storm aid to undocumented immigrants who may have been impacted by flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
According to reports, the $27 million fund, administered by the state’s Office of New Americans, will be accepting applications until November 26 and could provide each applicant as much as $72,000 for housing and damaged property. The average grant award for U.S. citizens who apply for FEMA aid is approximately $4,500.
“Governor Hochul and Mayor de Blasio’s decision to award undocumented immigrants with disaster aid is a slap in the face to the working-class citizens across our city and state who have suffered tens of thousands of dollars in damages and losses from Ida,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “The average amount of FEMA aid granted per claim is only a few thousand dollars which is far from making any individual whole. Instead of creating a fund to supplement FEMA assistance for taxpaying citizens like the state did after Superstorm Sandy, the mayor and the governor are creating one for those in our country illegally, while excluding American citizens.”
“The average check from FEMA doesn’t pay for even the material to replace sheetrock, studs, and outlets in a small apartment,” said New York City Councilman Joe Borelli. Why isn’t there ever this urgency from progressives over the needs of taxpayers?”
This is not the first time the State has prioritized illegal immigrants over citizens. Last Spring, New York State established the Excluded Workers Fund which provided undocumented immigrants up to $15,600 in pandemic aid, and in 2019, the New York State legislature passed the DREAM Act which allows undocumented immigrants to qualify for New York State-administered grants and scholarships to go towards their higher education costs, without adhering to the same income reporting guidelines.