In a recent appearance on CBS’s “Face The Nation,” New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams discussed his proposal for addressing the influx of migrants crossing the border into the United States. Adams expressed concern over the burden placed on individual cities and suggested that the federal government should take a more active role in directing migrants to various locations across the country. He argued that dispersing asylum seekers throughout the nation, rather than concentrating them in one city, would help alleviate the strain on local resources.
Mayor Adams emphasized that the $30 million in federal funds allocated to New York City thus far was insufficient to address what he described as a “national problem.” He pointed out that there are over 108,000 cities, villages, and towns in the United States, suggesting that if each community were to accept a small portion of the migrants, the burden would be distributed more evenly. Adams stressed the importance of coordinating this effort at the border to ensure that individuals who are lawfully entering the country are effectively moved to different locations.
According to Adams, New York City has already welcomed over 70,000 asylum seekers and is currently caring for approximately 42,000 individuals. To mitigate the severity of the situation within the city, Adams recently implemented a “decompression strategy” by busing migrants to surrounding counties. However, this move faced opposition, with Rockland and Orange Counties filing lawsuits to halt the process. County Executive Ed Day of Rockland County asserted that New York City did not have the authority to unilaterally place migrants in their jurisdiction, especially when lacking the necessary infrastructure to provide adequate support.
When questioned about this strategy, Mayor Adams expressed his belief that the entire state should participate in a decompression strategy. He acknowledged the reluctance of some lawmakers and counties to fulfill their roles in the redistribution of migrants, which he viewed as an unfortunate hindrance to addressing the broader issue effectively.
Suffolk County lawmakers trying to block Mayor Eric Adams from relocating asylum seekers in New York City.
Here is Rep. Nicolas LaLota taking digs at failed Biden administration’s border policies and Adams who bragged about NYC being sanctuary city. pic.twitter.com/CE9nu4jqrv— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) May 21, 2023
During his mayoral campaign, Eric Adams had assured New Yorkers that the city would remain a sanctuary city under his administration. This stance underscores the significance of his current proposal, which seeks to balance the humanitarian needs of migrants with the challenges faced by individual cities.
“We should protect our immigrants.” Period.
Yes, New York City will remain a sanctuary city under an Adams administration. #EricOnNBC
— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) October 20, 2021
Mayor Adams has actively engaged with FEMA, New York’s congressional delegation, and the White House in seeking financial allocations and additional resources to address the growing issue. He reiterated that it is unfair for a single city, like New York, to bear the burden of a nationwide problem.
