Reality has proven the failure of sanctuary cities in the face of immigration. New York, a city that previously boasted of "welcoming with open arms" those who arrived in search of a better future, has reached its limits. Mayor Eric Adams announced that the Big Apple´s shelters are full and the coffers are exhausted, so he will change immigration policy to take on the 58,000 illegals under City Hall's care. Adams announced that asylum seekers will have 60 days to find permanent housing on their own, in addition to warning those who plan to access the city of the difficulties they will encounter, such as high prices for housing and food.
New York City has done more than any other level of government to address this asylum seeker crisis, providing shelter, food, services, and much more to more than 90,000 asylum seekers since last spring. https://t.co/1fkZos64oJ
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) July 19, 2023
"New York has responded alone to this crisis"
Adams again called for help from the state and, especially, from the federal administration in order to cope with the burden the city is taking on with immigration. According to the mayor's estimates, more than 90,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the city since last spring, 58,000 of whom are still in the city's care today. The city's shelters are already over capacity, despite the fact that schools and other municipal facilities have been set up to accommodate them. Busloads of illegals have also been sent to nearby counties - especially Republican-run counties - and Canada.
New York City has done more than any other level of government to address this national crisis, providing shelter, food, services, and much more to more than 90,000 asylum seekers since last spring. With more than 54,800 asylum seekers still currently in our care, this effort will intensify adult asylum seekers’ casework services over the next two months to help them take the next step on their journey and ensure we have a bed to place children and families at night. For more than a year now, New York City has responded to this crisis alone — we need our state and federal partners to step up.
Changes in the open arms policy: first of all, it is no longer open arms
At a press conference, Adams announced changes to its open arms policy. The main one, which will no longer be open arms. The first step is to warn that the city can no longer receive more immigrants, and already "there is no guarantee that we will be able to provide shelter and services to new arrivals," so he urged those who are thinking of trying to start a new life in the Big Apple to reconsider their decision and choose other destinations. To convince them, he listed the difficulties they will face: "housing in New York City is very expensive; the costs of food, transportation and other necessities are the highest in the US."
The first to be affected by the new measures will be those illegals who have been under the city's umbrella the longest. They will receive a notice that they have 60 days "to find alternative housing." However, during this period, each asylum seeker "will have multiple contacts with social workers during the 60 days to discuss their options and plan next steps." According to the instructions provided by the City Council, those who "do not find alternative housing by the time their 60 days are complete will be required to reapply for a new placement at the arrival center."
Adams also noted that, "With the number of families with children in the city’s care continuing to increase, this policy will also create critically needed space for all families with children in need of shelter."
