Liberal State’s Lawmakers Consider $500M Fund for Unemployed Illegals

(NewsWorthy.news) – State leaders are toying with the idea of launching a project which would provide millions of dollars in financial aid to unemployed illegal immigrants in New York.

The proposal, called the “Unemployment Bridge Program Act,” was initially introduced by Democrats in 2023, suggesting the state of New York invest $500 million into a fund for illegal migrants who are not qualified to receive the same payments and benefits, if they are let go, as unemployed citizens. It is currently under consideration by the Senate Finance Committee.

The controversial program was heavily endorsed by Democratic Sen. Jessica Ramos, a lawmaker from Queens who leads the Labor Committee. She argues that the fund is necessary because illegal immigrants who wait for the outcome of their asylum requests are eligible to work as taxpayers but are not qualified for unemployment benefits should they lose their jobs.

Via social media, Ramos explained that the proposal would be similar to the Excluded Workers Fund, which launched in 2021 to provide financial assistance to those who had lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She also noted that freelancer unemployment insurance, run by the federal government, has since expired, leaving the need for New York to develop “a safety net” which “reflects the reality” of the state’s “labor market.”

The Unemployment Bridge Program Act would make its funds available to a variety of employees to make them “qualify for unemployment benefits.” These workers include self-employed individuals, domestic employees, landscaping, day and construction workers as well as those who are “recently released” from jail or detainment due to their illegal immigration.

Lawmakers in New York have a long history of arguing about what benefits to provide for illegal migrants and others who are not eligible to receive state unemployment benefits. The most recent funding proposal comes amid an ongoing crisis of immigration that has left legislators across the country arguing about how to respond to the influx of illegal migrants and the negative impact it brings to public safety and economy.