New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency Friday (7) in response to the thousands of Latino immigrants who have poured into the city from the United States’ southern border in recent months. They overload the homeless shelter system in the metropolis.
New York expects to spend $1 billion to handle the flow of these asylum seekers, Adams said in a speech at City Hall. More than 17,000 people have arrived in New York since April. Since the beginning of September, an average of five to six buses have been arriving every day. It was nine on Thursday, Adams said.
The surge in migrant arrivals has resulted in unprecedented numbers of people in shelters across the city.
“While our compassion is boundless, our resources are not,” Adams said, calling for support from federal and state governments. “We’re standing on the edge of a cliff.”
The state of emergency will make it easier for city authorities to more quickly coordinate their response to the situation, Adams said.
2 of 3 Venezuelan migrants are welcomed at a church on Martha’s Vineyard — Photo: Ray Ewing/Portal
Venezuelan migrants are welcomed at a church on Martha’s Vineyard (Picture: Ray Ewing/Portal)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who is seeking a third term in November’s midterm elections, sent more than 3,000 immigrants to New York to draw attention to the record number of US border crossings.
Adams criticized Abbott for not alerting city officials when he was sending migrants north.
“Thousands of asylumseekers were bussed into New York City and just left without warning, coordination or care,” the Democrat accused Adams on Friday, calling the crisis “made up.”
3 of 3 immigrants in Washington on July 30 after arriving by bus from Texas — Photo: Portal
Immigrants in Washington July 30 after arriving by bus from Texas — Photo: Portal
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, recently brought a group of about 50 immigrants to the wealthy enclave of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Democrats accuse Abbott and DeSantis of using vulnerable migrants politically, while Republicans blame President Joe Biden’s administration for failing to stem the tide at the border.
The Democratcontrolled city of El Paso has bused about 7,000 migrants into New York since late August, although city leaders say they are coordinating with New York officials, unlike Abbott.
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency last month. She created a new office to look after immigrants and asked the federal government for financial support.