Mayor Adams, other elected officials, again denounce White House for migrant crisis response

New York City Mayor Eric Adams once again publicly implored the Biden administration for more help in addressing the ongoing migrant crisis and was joined Tuesday by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and members of the Hotel Trades Council — a powerful city union that represents hospitality workers.

In an emotionally-charged speech, the mayor repeated his calls for the White House to provide more money and approve of temporary work authorizations for the new arrivals.

“There is no reason the national government is not standing true to the basic principle of the American experience to allow you the right to work,” Adams said at a rally outside Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza on Tuesday. “It is unacceptable.”

More than 100,000 migrants are estimated to have arrived in New York — a sanctuary city that provides certain legal protections to the new arrivals — since the expiration of certain pandemic-era restrictions.

City officials are continuing to sound the alarm on the amount of money it needs to provide shelter and other resources to the new arrivals. Last week, Adams said the migrant crisis is expected to cost the city $12 billion by 2025. For months, the mayor has continued to press the federal government to provide more help, including sending more money and approving work authorizations that would let migrants immediately begin working.

Now more elected officials are joining his call.

Reynoso insinuated that the White House is now actively conspiring against New York City by not providing more help. During his remarks, he said he and other elected officials are doing everything they can to address the crisis.

“It’s one thing to not help us — it’s another thing to get in our way — which the federal government seems to be doing now,” Reynoso said. “Not only do they not want to help us — they want to stop us from making progress.”

The Brooklyn Borough President also warned that the migrant crisis could potentially weaken the Democratic Party in the 2024 elections, citing the Republicans’ slim majority in the House.

“We need those seats,” Reynoso said. “I want to be very clear that this can be used against the Democratic Party during these congressional races.”

The mayor met with a White House liaison earlier this month to discuss the ongoing migrant crisis. The city is also receiving more state funding, including more than $1 billion in the state’s upcoming budget, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. Hochul is also set to meet with other federal officials to discuss federal properties that can be used to house more migrants.

"This is the greatest challenge our city has faced in decades," Adams said. "We've got to get it right."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This story has been updated to eliminate an incorrect spelling of Antonio Reynoso.