New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D.) said Monday on MSNBC that his state will do "whatever we can do to help" the victims of Hurricane Maria in U.S.-territory Puerto Rico because "we believe in immigration in New York."
His comments about potential Puerto Rican "immigrants" came after host Stephanie Ruhle accurately described them as U.S. citizens.
"It's going to take money and it's going to take time. Are you concerned about people giving up on Puerto Rico and moving here? You've got over 3 million people that are U.S. citizens. Is New York prepared for those people, when the airports open, to leave Puerto Rico and move to your state?" Ruhle asked.
"New York is prepared to do whatever we can do to help. We believe in immigration in New York. We are a state of immigrants. I am an immigrant. I'm wholly against this anti-immigrant fever that has been stoked during the political campaign," Cuomo said.
Cuomo was born in Queens, New York.
Cuomo later said the government wasn't adequately addressing the situation, and did acknowledge "these are Americans."
The New York governor is considered a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate. He has recently dodged the question of whether he plans to run, saying he is focused on his current "dream job" of governor.