New York City Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the lack of progress following his latest visit to Washington, D.C., where he sought federal assistance for the ongoing migrant crisis in New York City.
Despite his Thursday, December 7th discussions with Biden administration officials, Adams confronted the reality with a stark admission: “Help is not on its way.”
Adams, who was in the capital initially for a holiday event hosted by the federal Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, took the opportunity to meet with various officials, including a last-minute gathering with representatives from the Biden administration.
However, the outcome left him with little hope.
“I did not leave with optimism. I left with the cold reality that help is not on the way in the immediate future. It is going to be, at this moment, it’s going to be up to New Yorkers and this administration to continue to navigate this challenge that we’re facing,” Adams told reporters on Friday.
Mayor Adams added, “It is clear that for the time being, this crisis is going to be carried by the cities.”
Adams acknowledged that New Yorkers are frustrated because resources that would typically be allocated for daily city operations are being diverted to address the migrant crisis.
Mayor Adams’ visit to the capital, his tenth attempt to garner support for the crisis, included a planned discussion with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
Adams previously expressed hope that this meeting would unveil various solutions for federal assistance, though the details of their discussion remain private.
Additionally, Adams met with New York lawmakers such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, but these interactions yielded no significant outcomes.
The migrant crisis has brought more than 140,000 asylum seekers through New York City since its onset, with expectations of a $12 billion impact on the city.
Meanwhile, the federal government has allocated less than $150 million for New York City’s needs in this crisis.
Adams, facing a decline in approval ratings, highlighted the migrant situation as a primary cause of the city’s current financial strain.
“We are at an untenable situation right now,” Adams stated.
