"New York Contemplates State Work Permits for Migrants Amid Growing Influx"

New York State is considering issuing work permits directly to asylum seekers in an effort to bypass the lengthy wait for permits at the federal level. This move would make New York the first state to openly challenge federal law and could escalate tensions between President Biden and Democratic leaders in New York. Lawmakers in Albany have introduced bills to create a state-level worker permit program, but the White House has pushed back, stating that work permits are a federal authority. The debate comes as New York City grapples with an estimated 59,000 migrants in city shelters, leading to concerns about strained resources and potential political and humanitarian consequences.