NYC Gazette

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today issued the following statement in response to a xenophobic letter sent by New York Republicans to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey demonizing migrants and asylum seekers in search of shelter and a better life. The letter was signed by Representatives Anthony D’Esposito, Elise Stefanik, Nick Langworthy, Marc Molinaro, Claudia Tenney, Nick LaLota, Andrew Garbarino, Brandon Williams and Mike Lawler.

“Migrants and asylum seekers who have been vetted and sent to New York City are not ‘security threats,’ as every Republican member of Congress attests. They are human beings fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries to come to our great nation seeking a better life through the legal process of asylum. This letter from my Republican colleagues is xenophobic and dehumanizing and runs counter to everything the home of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty stands for.

“Nearly all of us in New York were immigrants or are descendants of immigrants. Our nation, our state, and our city were built by immigrants whose stories and journeys mirror those of these newest arrivals coming to our shores in search of the American dream. Elected leaders who would prefer to demonize rather than welcome them should be ashamed of themselves.

“Our immigration system needs comprehensive congressional reform, yet Republicans are more interested in playing politics than finding solutions, Democrats in Congress and at the state and local level are ready and willing to be productive partners in reimagining our immigration system and providing shelter and aid to our newest neighbors.

“Until then, I applaud the Biden administration and city and state officials for creatively identifying an unused, isolated warehouse at JFK to temporarily house migrants in desperate need of shelter.”

Original source can be found here.