Staff Reports
New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams proposed that immigrants could help fill the city’s need for lifeguards, stating that they are “excellent swimmers.” During a meeting at City Hall, the mayor suggested that the process for immigrants to receive work visas should be expedited to fill these positions quickly.
Why Mayor Adams specifically mentioned immigrants being excellent swimmers needs to be clarified. However, some speculate it could be related to the Rio Grande, where over 1,500 immigrants crossed into El Paso, Texas, in late 2022. Adams also highlighted additional roles within the city, like food service and nursing, that could benefit from immigrant workers. He stressed the need for a streamlined work visa process for these sectors.
The mayor’s comments comeThe mayor’s remarks coincide with those of Jerome Powell, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, who emphasized the robustness of the labor market on the same day, Recognizing the substantial impact of immigrants who have entered the workforce since 2021, it's noted that since President Joe Biden assumed office in January of that year, over 6 million immigrants have unlawfully crossed the southern border, as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This proposal has raised concerns among some conservatives, who believe that prioritizing immigrants for these positions may overlook qualified American citizens.
