New York's Democratic Mayor Eric Adams warned that the immigration crisis has passed the city's "tipping point" and pleaded for help to avoid a budget emergency.
Adams explained in a speech he gave Wednesday at City Hall that the influx of homeless immigrants could force the city to spend $12 billion by 2025, a much higher projection than expected.
The mayor explained that New York has already spent $1.45 billion on shelter, food and services for the nearly 100,000 asylum seekers. "Let me repeat: almost 100,000 men, women and children have asked for a place to stay. That’s almost the population of Albany, New York," he insisted.
The asylum seeker crisis is a national crisis. It needs a national solution. Join us now at City Hall. https://t.co/s4JXoc8omb
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 9, 2023
Adams stressed that spending could continue to increase and stated that, in fact, new estimates project spending of nearly $5 billion for the current fiscal year.
"You come to New York City, and we are supposed to feed, clothe, house you as long as you want. That is just not sustainable. It’s not realistic," he complained.
Cities like New York, Boston, Chicago, El Paso, Houston, and Los Angeles can't and shouldn’t be left to shoulder a national crisis alone. We need the federal government to take immediate action.
Thank you to all the New Yorkers working to help those seeking asylum navigate the… pic.twitter.com/vzhAJRPtQl
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 9, 2023
The mayor criticized immigration policies and warned that they are facing an unprecedented state of emergency. "The immigration system in this country is broken," he said.
As he has done repeatedly, Adams asked the federal government to help the city cope with the crisis.
For its part, the federal government said it would give the city $140 million. But budget director Jacques Jiha said that so far New York has not received a dollar of that money.
If we don't get the support we need, New Yorkers will be left with a $12 BILLION bill over three fiscal years.
This is a city of empathy, compassion and care. We'll always reach out a helping hand, and it's time for others to offer a hand, too. pic.twitter.com/szkvxaDCwc
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 9, 2023
New York City Councilman complains about immigration system
Democratic New York City Councilman Robert Holden also spoke recently about the problems the city is facing because of the number of immigrants arriving. But unlike Adams, the councilman pointed the finger directly at the Biden Administration for the lack of solutions.
"We haven’t heard a plan. It’s absurd (...) Joe Biden is asleep at the wheel. The whole administration is," he said.
