The Post reported Thursday that sources close to Mayor Eric Adams said he had asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prevent other states from sending asylum applicants to New York City. In only three days this week, New York City welcomed 1,300 asylum-seekers.
The adjective “frustrated” Adams made the request at a closed budget meeting on Wednesday. He advocated for FEMA to crack down on municipalities that funnel federal aid money toward relocating refugees to New York City, claiming that this would save the city money. According to attendees at the conference, Adams was displeased to learn that some municipalities were planning to use federal grant funds to relocate residents to New York.
There was an issue with the Federal Emergency Management Agency funds that other areas utilize to pay for automobile rentals. If sending people somewhere else costs money, why do we do it? Someone mentioned the mayor’s phone call.
Adams made this statement after 1,300 visitors descended upon New York City between Sunday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 26, a span of three days. That was a part of a 2,300 increase that occurred in the week following April 19.
In the same time frame, eight additional emergency centers opened to accommodate the growing population, though their precise locations remain unknown.
Adams has repeatedly appealed to the federal government for assistance, arguing that New York City cannot afford to retain incoming refugees. He claimed it was inappropriate for the White House to ignore the city last week.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is trying to block other states from transferring migrants to the Big Apple. He proposes that FEMA take on this responsibility.
Martinka, Paul
As FEMA prepares to distribute $800 million in government funds to help towns meet the expense of hosting asylum seekers at the end of next month, the mayor has renewed his plea for a reduction in federal expenditure.
New York City has asked the federal government for $650 million and plans to use it to repair budget gaps.
The city has received $8 million from the federal government so far to assist it accommodate the growing migrant population.
Which municipalities, if any, have used FEMA funds to relocate residents to New York City remains unclear. The government office did not immediately respond when The Post requested comment.
However, Adams bypassed the bureaucratic red tape and went straight to FEMA with his request during a private meeting with agency head Deanne Criswell and regional office head David Warrington last week in the nation’s capital.
As the source puts it, “at the FEMA meeting last week, we said that cities that get FEMA money should act in a way that doesn’t put extra stress on other cities.” They shouldn’t, for instance, come up unexpectedly or without preparation, and they shouldn’t advertise their services on public transportation.
“Why should FEMA give you money if you’re just a place where people pass through and don’t offer them shelter?”
In only three days this week, 1,300 migrants arrived in New York City seeking refuge.
To quote James Messerschmidt of the New York Post: Last spring, after the migrants crossed into Texas from Mexico, Republican Governor Greg Abbott made a public spectacle of transporting busloads of them to New York’s Port Authority.
There have been 58,300 refugees who have fled to New York City since then. There are currently 36,100 persons in the city’s shelters and other emergency housing.
In the five boroughs, there are now 120 hospitals and hotels.
Adams predicted in his Wednesday address that the $106.7 billion budget would quadruple by June 2024, after it had been in place for five years.
According to Adams, the city estimates that providing shelter, food, clothing, and other assistance to asylum seekers would cost over $4.3 billion by the end of next year and will rise to $5.3 billion by 2025.
According to the Office of Budget and Management, between July 2022 and March 2023, the city spent $817 million dealing with the immigration crisis.
Adams warned that if immigration numbers continue to rise, the city may need to “do the numbers” once more.
Adams was seething with rage last week when he visited the nation’s capital. He characterized the present state of affairs as having “destroyed” the city and predicted that it would take billions to restore it.
The lack of assistance from the federal government is the fault of the national government, he added.
Adams stated, “Even if our most optimistic estimates are true, state and federal aid will cover just under 40% of our costs.” New Yorkers, as a whole, will foot the bill for the remainder.
The Democrat’s criticism of the Biden administration for failing to grant additional funding has been growing in volume as of late. The White House’s departure, he added last week, has resulted in “one of the biggest humanitarian crises this city has ever seen.”
Adams has previously made the comment that “the national government has turned its back on New York City.” Because of the high volume of asylum seekers, “every service in this city will be affected.”