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Williams compares costs of asylum seeker services to Trump's immigration agenda

0:15:16

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87 sec

Jumaane Williams presents a cost comparison between New York City's expenditure on asylum seeker services and the projected costs of Trump's immigration agenda. He argues that the city's spending is significantly less than the potential national costs of restrictive immigration policies.

Williams states that NYC's spending on asylum seekers is much lower than the cost of Trump's immigration agenda
He cites estimates from conservative think tanks and peer-reviewed economists on the national costs
Williams emphasizes that seeking asylum is legal and highlights the economic contributions of immigrant communities

Jumaane Williams

0:15:16

In advance of the discussions being held at today's hearings, one might make one thing clear, the funding of services for our newest New Yorkers has been wielded by our mayor and now the president as a political weapon that seeks to distort a simple reality.

0:15:29

Even in the face of billions of dollars in the city has, the city has spent on asylum seekers, services, the number pales in comparison to the cost of Trump's immigration agenda.

0:15:41

For everyone who might object to the expenditure of city and state resources to welcome our newest New Yorkers, please think about the cost of chartered planes or private detention facilities and of ever expanding law enforcement.

0:15:52

Thank you for the contributions that our immigrant communities make to our city's economy and what a loss of labor goods and tax dollars will cost our city.

0:16:02

Just to be clear, seeking asylum is perfectly legal in this country, at least it is today.

0:16:09

The answer is simple, the resources we devote to our most vulnerable New Yorkers is a fraction of the cost of what the mayor, president, sorry, the mayor and president are proposing.

0:16:19

The conservative estimate put forth by pro Trump think tanks estimates the national cost at $500,000,000,000, more than two thirds 200 times the cost of our city's budget this year.

0:16:31

In fact, peer reviewed economic economists have predicted that the true cost of Trump's immigration agenda combined with the loss of labor and taxpayer dollars is over $6,000,000,000,000.

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Williams criticizes mayor's overbudgeting and misallocation of funds for asylum seekers