Governor Hochul (D): I Have 400,000 Open Jobs — Let’s Make It Legal For Illegals To Work Them

Democrat Kathy Hochul exposed exactly where her priorities are — and it’s not with American citizens.

On MSNBC, Hochul said illegal immigrants aren’t criminals and that we should “give them work authorization.” Then she admitted what this is really about:

“There will be a lot of employers including the people in my state, New York. I have 400,000 open jobs as we speak. They’re not taking someone’s job — they’ll be doing an important service to us.”

Let that sink in. Governor Hochul wants illegal immigrants to fill American jobs, instead of hiring unemployed American citizens: single parents, veterans, seniors, young adults, teens, laid-off workers, people with disabilities, blue-collar Americans, ex-felons trying to rebuild their lives — any U.S. citizen simply trying to earn an honest living.

She also said:

“They had legal status when they came. So when you take it away once they’re here, it’s just like a cruel joke on them so they’re not the criminals. Let’s find them a legal pathway. Let’s give them work authorization.”

When Hochul says “let’s find them a legal pathway,” she’s openly admitting they’re not here legally now. Hochul wants to change their status after the fact — not based on merit, not through legal immigration channels, but simply because they’re already here.

This isn’t about compassion — it’s about cheap labor. Hochul wants to turn illegal immigrants into legal workers so corporations can hire them — often at lower wages than American citizens.

Legalized immigrants still work for below-market rates. Hochul isn’t proposing they earn as much as Americans — she just wants it to be legal for them to work for less.

If someone enters illegally or overstays a visa, they’ve broken the law. Being told to check in with ICE or appear in immigration court doesn’t make them law-abiding — it means they’re in the system because they broke federal law.

Even those who came under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or sought asylum were only granted temporary protection. For example, the 2023 TPS designation for Venezuelans ended on April 7, 2025—once that expires, they no longer have legal protection. Remaining in the U.S. past that date is unlawful. So when Hochul says they’re “doing an important service to us,” what she really means is this: Corporations benefit from illegal labor — so let’s make it legal and permanent.

This isn’t leadership that defends the law, protects American jobs, or puts citizens first. It’s a betrayal — of American workers, of U.S. law, and of every immigrant who followed the legal path and waited their turn.