Mayor Eric Adams (D) of New York City has raised concerns about the significant number of hotel rooms in the city being occupied by recent border crossers and illegal aliens, who are residing there rent-free at the expense of New Yorkers.
Since the spring of the previous year, approximately 70,000 border crossers and illegal aliens have arrived in New York City, with many being transported from Texas by Republican governor Greg Abbott. Although this figure represents only a fraction of the millions of illegal immigrants and border crossers who have entered the United States, it still poses challenges for the city.
To address this issue, Adams has been awarding lucrative contracts to the city’s influential real estate sector, allowing them to house tens of thousands of migrants in hotels. For instance, the recent arrangement involving the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan required an annual fee of $75 million, which would have been borne by New Yorkers.
Highlighting the situation, Adams emphasized that almost half of the city’s hotel rooms are now occupied by border crossers and illegal aliens. He referred to this influx as an “onslaught” that local authorities are struggling to manage. He called upon President Joe Biden to disperse new arrivals to towns and cities across the United States instead of concentrating them in New York City.
Adams expressed concern over the financial burden faced by New Yorkers due to illegal immigration, estimating that the city is spending approximately $5 million per day to address the issue. Taking into account the lost tourism revenue, the total cost is expected to surpass $4.3 billion.
Furthermore, Adams revealed that on a single day, more than 900 illegal immigrants and border crossers arrived in New York City, bringing the total number to around 4,200. He noted that the city is receiving between 13 and 15 migrant buses daily.
The mayor’s statements shed light on the significant impact that illegal immigration is having on the city’s resources, finances, and tourism industry, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive solution to address the situation.