The Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, said in a statement that immigrants are becoming a "real burden" for the city. The Democratic official emphasized that "we are currently experiencing a notable increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving from Latin America and other regions," which is why he asked the federal government for funds to address the situation.
Adams asked for help from the White House to take in the more than 2,800 people who have recently entered the city's shelter system, explaining that immigrant assistance programs are overburdened. "There's a whole host of things that this is going to produce. We need help," the mayor said in a public appearance.
"In order to fulfill the mandate to serve as a city that provides shelter, and provide high quality shelter and services to those who come into our system, New York needs additional federal resources immediately", he added.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams: Influx of illegal aliens is “a real burden” on NYC resources. pic.twitter.com/5hc7x5YzQr
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) July 20, 2022
As the mayor of Washington DC, also a Democrat, Muriel Browser, did this week, Adams wanted to put the spotlight on the Republican administrations of Texas and Arizona, which, according to EFE news agency, "have been offering transportation to migrants to go to the capital, as a way of protesting President Joe Biden's immigration policy".
But Arizona's Republican governor, Doug Ducey, has denied sending migrants to New York, arguing that he is only sending them to the capital; although he has been pleased that "finally these progressive mayors are talking about this humanitarian crisis, now that it is affecting their communities".
"[Adams] has no clue what's happening on our country's southern border", Ducey decried on Twitter. "Our communities have been strained for a long time because of the border crisis. The real lack of compassion comes from the Biden admin who has turned a blind eye".
.@NYCMayor really has no clue what’s happening at our nation’s southern border.
Our communities have been strained for a long time because of the border crisis. The real lack of compassion comes from the Biden admin who has turned a blind eye. pic.twitter.com/xegdLVMC6a
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) July 21, 2022
