HOUSTON, Texas–Millions of illegal immigrants could soon become legal “state citizens” in New York thanks to a new proposed bill. If passed, the legislation would allow undocumented immigrants living in the state to receive a slew of benefits administered by the state including drivers licenses, in-state tuition, voting rights, and Medicaid.
The bill was introduced on Monday, according to New York Daily News. It would supposedly only apply to illegal immigrants with no criminal history who can prove they have lived and paid taxes in New York for three years. In total, an estimated 2.7 million individuals would reap benefits as a result of the legislation.
State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) is a sponsor of the bill. His office did not immediately return calls from Breitbart Texas.
The proposed bill comes as thousands of illegal immigrants–mostly from Central America–have overwhelmed U.S. resources and facilities. Many on the left, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, claim the spike in illegal immigration is the result of violence and horrible conditions in the migrants’ home countries. But the actual reason is likely related to the widespread belief in Central America that minors and families who illegally cross the U.S. border will receive amnesty.
Hundreds of illegal immigrants are being set free on U.S. soil each week and lawyers claim that most of the new migrants will be allowed to permanently stay in the country. Reports and word-of-mouth spreading this news has allegedly prompted more hopeful immigrants to cross the border illegally.
Sylvia Longmire, a Breitbart Texas contributing editor and border security expert, said, “Many Americans don’t understand the power of word-of-mouth in Latin America; it’s like gossip in a small American town times ten. Word about anything, especially friends or family members going though the northbound migration or southbound deportation process, spreads very quickly.”
Although the newly-crafted New York bill would not apply to the new Central American migrants, it could certainly add to the perception that U.S. officials are granting amnesty to those in the country illegally.
Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.
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