New York Dem Governor gives illegal immigrants welfare benefits

The state of New York is giving thousands of illegal immigrants, with pending asylum applications, payments under its Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) "Safety Net Assistance" (SNA) program after a rule change in May of last year.

According to its website, SNA is available to "Non-citizens who are eligible for TA, but who are not eligible for federal reimbursement."

The OTDA told the New York Post that approximately 10 percent of New York's illegal immigrant population could benefit under the program while declining to reveal its current number of recipients.

The outlet notes that New York City alone could have over 17,000 migrants receiving taxpayer checks. ODTA said that the number of illegal immigrants receiving the SNA assistance is a "small portion" of the total $4.3 billion that New York Governor Kathy Hochul has designated to deal with the illegal immigrant crisis "in the absence of new federal aid."

“At the request of New York City, OTDA made a technical update to allow a small percentage of migrants to receive certain additional support in compliance with state and federal law,” he told the Post.

New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R) said that it's “horrible that Gov. Hochul found another way to attract migrants" while "putting the squeeze" on lower and middle-class New Yorkers. "You have people from all over the world coming to New York to take advantage of all these left-wing programs the governor, and the mayor are implementing, while at the same time, they’re clobbering taxpayers over the head."

"The endless handouts to the entire world are a slap in the face to every citizen who has contributed to and sacrificed for this country.” Queens Councilman Robert Holden (D) added. “It’s time to end this madness."

The report comes just weeks after it was revealed that New York City was set to distribute $53 million worth of pre-paid debit cards to illegal immigrants to assist with food. At the same time, NYC Mayor Eric Adams warned New Yorkers to brace for "extremely painful" budget cuts in December, after losing hope of federal government assistance to deal with his city's migrant crisis.