Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is blasting New York’s plan to offer a one-time payment of up to $15,600 for illegal immigrants who lost work during the pandemic.
Lawmakers in the state have approved plans to offer the one-time payments to the undocumented immigrants who lost their job as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The lawmakers have set up a $2.1 billion fund to draw from. Unemployment insurance and federal stimulus checks are not available to those who are undocumented.
A statement from Scott’s office noted New York is using funding it received from President Joe Biden’s “wasteful, untargeted $1.9 trillion ‘COVID’ spending bill, which dedicated less than 10% of its overall price tag to fighting COVID-19, and included $360 billion for state and local bailouts that predominantly benefit liberal states.”
And Scott said: “The federal government should reimburse states and local governments for expenses related to COVID-19 response, but it is irresponsible and reckless of Biden and the Democrats to take billions from American taxpayers and use it for handouts so liberal politicians like (Gov.) Andrew Cuomo in New York can fund their radical priorities.
“New York’s decision to take taxpayer money from citizens of fiscally responsible states like Florida and send $15,600 checks to illegal aliens is unfathomable. It is a disgusting and shameful misuse of taxpayer dollars. Every American should be outraged that Joe Biden and New York liberals are using their taxpayer money to flout our laws.
“Andrew Cuomo and Democrats in New York must answer to American taxpayers on how this is even legal. As our nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, this insane plan cannot be allowed to move forward.”
In a tweet, Scott added: “Democrats pass a massive 2T ‘COVID’ spending bill with $360B for blue state bailouts and this is the result: @NYGovCutomo spends $2B of the ‘COVID’ funds cutting checks to illegal aliens. This is a shameful misuse of tax dollars and I won’t stand for it.”
Under New York’s plans, those undocumented immigrants who lost work can get up to $15,600 – an amount equal to $300 a week for the past year, according to The New York Times. They would have to verify that they were residents of the state, lost income as a result of the pandemic, and were eligible for federal unemployment benefits
And others who can prove at least their residency and identity, and can show some work documentation, could get as much as $3,200.
The Times said the New York fund is the biggest of its kind in the nation. It is far greater that a similar relief program in California. Officials in that state established a $75 million cash assistance program that gave undocumented immigrants a $500 one-time payment on a first-come, first-served basis.
Source: Newmax
