- Eric Adams sends New York City asylum seekers to upstate New York, drawing criticism from local authorities.
- Adams has criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott for sending immigrants from Texas to New York City.
- Northern officials now share similar criticisms of Adams.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is following the strategy of Republican governors. He sends groups of asylum seekers elsewhere so other municipalities can respond.
In doing so, Adams appears to see off asylum seekers — much like Texas Governor Greg Abbott did when he bussed immigrants from his state to New York. Associated Press report. As resented as Adams was by his Abbott move, local officials in the North are not satisfied.
About 300 adult male lives are involved in this politically charged game. This is a small fraction of the number of asylum seekers crossing the southern US border.
“This new voluntary program will provide temporary housing, access to services, and community ties as asylum seekers build a stable life in New York State,” Adams said. says. press release on friday.
Adams plans to move immigrants to hotels in Orangeburg and Orange Lake in upstate New York.
previous press release On Monday, Adams explained Abbott’s strategy — which isn’t all that different from his own — is “morally bankrupt.”
“Despite Abbott’s inhumane actions, New York City will continue to do all it can to deal with this influx, but this crisis is not something more than one city can handle.
A spokeswoman for Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment on Saturday. But Abbott has long complained that states far from the southern border are casting slurs while his state bears the brunt of the immigration crisis, a federal jurisdiction.
Abbott also bussed immigrants to Chicago.Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot I complained in a letter last week He said Chicago did not have the resources to take them, and asked Abbott to stop “this inhumane and dangerous” behavior.
Abbott replied his own lettertold Lightfoot to file a complaint with President Joe Biden.
US Customs and Border Protection said the number of “unique individuals” encountered at the border in March was was more than 120,000, up from about 100,000 in February. In April, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said CBP: Over 22,000 arrested in one 72 hour period.
The influx will occur when the federal government is set to adopt New regulations on May 11 It denies asylum to immigrants who transit through another country on their way to the United States without first seeking asylum elsewhere, or who use illegal routes to enter the United States.
Title 42, a policy first enacted in 1944 to allow the movement of immigrants from countries where communicable diseases exist, is also due to end next week.This policy allowed border officials to expel immigrants Over 2.7 million times Since former President Donald Trump launched the policy in March 2020.
Immigrants have the right to seek asylum in another country if their home country is threatened.Many immigrants coming to the United States from South America are now fleeing dangerous In their home countries, including gang violence, gender-based violence, and LGBTQ persecution.
Huge numbers of asylum-seeking immigrants have overwhelmed the southern border of the United States in recent years, sparking a national political debate about immigration.
Now, just as Adams blamed Abbott ‘Inhumane act’ By bussing immigrants into his city, local officials in Rockland and Orange counties have similar objections to Adams’ plans.
“It’s like taking someone who can’t swim and dropping them in the middle of the ocean and hoping they do well,” Rockland County Commissioner Ed Day told the AP.
“Who are these guys? Have they been checked? What are they going to do? Are they going to walk around town?” Orange County executive Steve Newhouse told The Associated Press. rice field.
About 60,000 asylum seekers arrived in New York City last year, the mayor’s office said in a press release on Friday. .
“The lack of leadership has forced us to implement our own decompression strategy,” Adams said in a press release.