New York City is facing a significant challenge as thousands of migrants continue to arrive, seeking temporary care and shelter. As a result, Mayor Eric Adams has asked the federal government to step in and help with expenses. $12.2 billion is the projected amount for expenses by the end of next year due to the southern U.S. border influx.
Mayor Adams promotes New Yorkers’ hospitality and empathetic response to the migrants, but the city’s resources are not as boundless. The mayor has requested that the Biden administration provide aid, citing that the citizens didn’t create this international humanitarian crisis but are burdened with facing the consequences alone.
Adams’ call aligns with other politicians, urging President Biden to declare a national emergency. In 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott penned a letter with a similar plea. That same year, over two dozen House Republicans joined the call, signing a letter beseeching Biden to declare a national emergency at the southern border.
Homeland Security dispatched a team to determine the federal response and assess why the promised $140 million in federal aid hasn’t reached the city yet. Officials say that routine bureaucratic processes are causing the delay, but with city shelters strained to capacity, the money is needed ASAP.
Nearly 100,000 migrants have sought shelter in New York City since the spring of 2022. As of the latest update, the city is housing over 82,000 people, including about 30,000 children. The incoming traffic of migrants show no signs of decreasing, with more arriving every day. Mayor Adams, supported by the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless, has made a heartfelt plea for meaningful assistance from both the Biden administration and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
Governor Hochul recognizes the pressing need for extra funding, acknowledging that the situation has proven to be much more costly than initially expected.The governor wants an additional $1 billion from Albany, in addition to the previously allocated $1 billion they provided. Sustainable options on a budget are the biggest priority to provide shelter and security for migrants going forward.
