NYC Mayor Eric Adams mooted housing 3,000 illegal immigrants who've overwhelmed homeless shelters in hotels - and said he wants taxpay...
NYC Mayor Eric Adams mooted housing 3,000 illegal immigrants who've overwhelmed homeless shelters in hotels - and said he wants taxpayer cash from Joe Biden to do so.
During a press conference on Thursday, Adams told a room of reporters that in order to house those who cross the border illegally: 'If we have to get hotel rooms, we get hotel rooms.'
Adams also said 'our team has been in constant contact with the White House' and added that he wants the federal government to release funds in order 'to deal with this unprecedented surge' of migrants.
According to reports, the city is struggling to cope with a recent influx in immigrants arriving in New York City from Latin America. Between May and July, the city has seen 3,000 people arrive.
The mayor was asked by a reporter about his plans to rent hotel space for migrants. He said that it was the job of his administration to work to together to establish 'new locations' for those coming to New York.
There are currently 48,000 housed in shelter around New York City. Adams described his city as being 'overburdened.'
On Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams told a room of reporters that in order to house those who cross the border illegally: 'If we have to get hotel rooms, we get hotel rooms'
He said: 'This is a real burden on New Yorkers as we’re trying to do the right thing. We already have an overburdened shelter system.
'So now we’re talking about food, clothing, school. This is going to impact our schools because we do not turn away individuals because they are undocumented,' Adams continued.
For the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, New York City offered free hotel stays and meals to those who tested positive for the virus in order to aid isolation. The program ended quietly in March 2022.
A message on the program's website reads: 'This program is no longer accepting reservations. Traveling healthcare workers on contract are encouraged to talk to their employer about lodging alternatives.'
In June 2022, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that abandoned hotels across the city were going to be turned into permanent shelters for homeless people.
Adams also admitted on Thursday that the city had violated state laws requiring any person who arrives with children in New York by 10:00 pm to be accommodated.
The former NYPD officer said that in the Bronx, four families were forced to sleep on a floor at an intake center on Sunday.
He also said: 'We should have done better. We violated the letter of the law.' Adams later added: 'This administration is made up of human beings. Human beings drop the ball sometimes.'
Migrants are detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents after crossing the Rio Bravo river to turn themselves in to request for asylum in El Paso
Migrants from Haiti line up close to the southern border. Adams accused Republicans of sending migrants to New York on Thursday
However, Adams did congratulate his administration on a 'job well done' in housing the migrants. He described New York as a city that is 'so humane.'
Adams added: 'This is the best city for people who are seeking housing. Nowhere better than New York.'
The director of refugee services for Catholic Charities New York Mario Russel told the Daily News that activists don't know why so many people are coming to the city.
Russel said: 'What we don’t know is who is giving them that directive. Is it something happening at the highest levels of the Department of Homeland Security? Is it happening at the local level, at the regional level?'
At Thursday's press conference, Adams said that some of the immigrants came from Texas and Arizona.
The mayor alluded to the Republican leaders of Texas and Arizona being 'cowards.'
He said: 'Our country is home of the free, land of the brave. We do not become cowards and send people away who are looking for help.'
Both Texas Governor Gregg Abott and Ohio Governor Doug Ducey have denied allegations that they have sent migrants to sanctuary states.
Adams joked on Thursday: 'Now the people who are sending people away, they tell you they did something differently and automatically you believe them? I want you to treat me that way.'
Following Thursday's comments, Abbott's spokesperson Renae Eze was quoted by the New York Post as saying: 'Mayor Adams should check with President Biden if his administration is the one dumping migrants in his city, as they’ve been doing to Texas border towns for months.'
In a statement following the briefing, the New York City Legal Aid Society said in a statement: 'The Mayor isn’t speaking the whole truth.'
The release continued: 'We spoke to eight families with children this morning who slept on the floor last night at the City’s shelter intake center in the Bronx, in addition to the four families, the Mayor acknowledged who had slept there Sunday night.
It added: 'This humanitarian crisis shows no sign of abating anytime soon, regardless of how many press conferences the Mayor holds to conceal the reality.'
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