New York Mayor Eric Adams criticized the actions of the "far left" of his own party for the impact that the immigration crisis is generating in the state. "The far right is doing the wrong thing. The far left is doing nothing," Adams said Monday during a press conference in front of New York City Hall.
In his remarks, Adams distanced himself from the progressive wing of his party after being asked about the tent city he is building in the Bronx to temporarily house immigrants who arrived in New York. "I mean, the silence... I don't believe the silence I'm hearing."
The mayor avoided commenting on President Joe Biden's handling of the current immigration crisis.
Internal criticisms
Progressive democrats criticized Mayor Adams on Friday for his plan to house immigrants in a tent city in the Bronx. At a rally in front of City Hall, Councilwoman Carmen De LaRosa (D-Manhattan) criticized the plan to build tents, pointing out that Adams had stated earlier this year that he was determined to put an end to makeshift homeless encampments. "Didn't this mayor go to tear down the tents of the people fleeing the shelter in the first place?" asked De LaRosa. He also added, "So, those people's tents are not good enough, but we're going to build our own with a company that built the wall."
Democratic Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) accused Adams of circumventing a 1981 court-ordered agreement guaranteeing homeless people the right to shelter in New York City. "A tent city in a flood-prone parking lot, far from public transportation, is an inhumane way to treat, serve and support New Yorkers who desperately need our help," he said.
Adams plans to confine migrants on Norwegian ship
On the other hand, the New York Post reported last Friday that Adams could come to an agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line to house recently arrived illegal immigrants. The plan is to place several migrants on one cruise ship, which would remain docked at Staten Island's Homeport.
The plan involves leasing the luxury liner for at least six months while using it to house and process immigrants before they enter the city's shelter system. The migrants would be allowed to come and go from the vessel while they live there.
From "open arms" to complaining about so many immigrants
Despite stating in July that "New York welcomes immigrants with open arms," Mayor Adams has walked back his stance on numerous occasions. He did so in August, when Texas Governor Gregg Abbott initiated a policy of busing illegal immigrants to so-called sanctuary cities. During that time, Adams stated that immigrants were becoming a "real burden" on the city.
It is estimated that about 15,000 illegal immigrants have entered New York in recent months. In September, Mayor Adams noted that with the arrival of so many people, the city's shelter system was "on the verge of collapse."
