Bruce Blakeman blasts Kathy Hochul’s $4.5B migrant spending as harmful to New Yorkers

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman on Sunday, December 28, sharply criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul over state spending on migrant services, calling the funding excessive and misplaced.

Blakeman argued that the money could have been directed toward reducing costs for New York taxpayers and investing in public services.

His comments came as he positioned himself as a Republican challenger to Hochul in the next gubernatorial race. Hochul’s campaign responded by accusing Blakeman of aligning with President Donald Trump’s policy agenda.

Bruce Blakeman slams Hochul over migrant spending 

Blakeman, who is serving as Nassau County executive and is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, took aim at Hochul’s handling of migrant-related expenditures.

He said that the governor had prioritized migrant assistance over easing financial pressure on New Yorkers.

“I want to make sure that we can bring down the cost of government so that people, taxpayers, don’t have to spend money on things that don’t benefit them, and, in fact, hurt them, like spending $4.5 billion on illegal migrants, which is what Governor Hochul did,” Blakeman claimed.

He added that the funds could have been redirected toward public needs.

“(This) is money that could have been spent on infrastructure, hospitals and, more important, schools and cutting taxes,” he said.

Blakeman also cited broader spending totals, saying New York City had spent approximately $8 billion on migrant services.

“Between the (city and state), it’s over $12 billion on illegal migrants,” he said.

“It’s a tremendous amount of money, and it’s for people who didn’t earn it. They’ve been here for 15 minutes. They’re here illegally,” Blakeman added. 

He has previously criticized New York’s sanctuary policies and has received backing from Trump.

Hochul’s campaign rejected Blakeman’s claims, arguing his position mirrors Trump-era policies. 

“Bruce Blakeman is Donald Trump’s No 1 cheerleader for his attacks on New York families,” said Hochul campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika, citing Trump’s record on Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and tariffs.

She added, “That’s exactly how Blakeman would govern: importing Trump’s cost-hiking agenda to New York and running our hospitals into the ground the same way he did on Long Island.”

Union outreach and criticism of Kathy Hochul's vetoes 

Blakeman also criticized Hochul over labor-related issues, including her veto of legislation that would have required two operators on every Metropolitan Transportation Authority train.

“For too long, the hardworking men and women of New York State have been at a disadvantage because they’ve had a state government that doesn’t understand their needs,” Blakeman said. “That ends on day one when I’m governor.” 

Blakeman argued that the state could afford better compensation for workers if it reduced migrant-related spending. “It’s a policy of you come here, you get more than the residents do,” he said. “You get more than the taxpayers do.”

Hochul, however, said in her veto message that the bill could cost up to $10 million annually and limit the MTA’s ability to modernize.

Several transit and business groups supported the veto, warning that the legislation would raise operating costs and restrict technological upgrades.