Mayor Eric Adams in El Paso, Texas for first-hand look at migrant crisis
Mayor Adams in El Paso, Texas for a first-hand look at the immigrant crisis
Speaker Adams in El Paso, Texas for a first-hand look at the immigrant crisis 02:16
NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams is in Texas on Sunday getting a first-hand look at the migrant crisis along the US-Mexico border and hoping to glean insights on how to deal with the influx of asylum seekers in New York City.
Adams said he went to El Paso to observe how the crisis is affecting the local community and what processes are being used. Other stops on the trip include a local shelter, processing facility and talks with public officials.
The mayor spent his first day at the southern border on Saturday surveying an area frequented by immigrants and speaking with El Paso’s mayor about the crisis that has gripped both their municipalities.
Since last spring, about 40,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City.
“The federal government should have stepped in from day one and that’s what we’ve been asking them to do. New York City’s right to shelter city,” said Murad Awawdeh, of the New York Immigration Coalition.
Adams announced his plan to fly to Texas on the same day he issued an emergency aid request to the state for assistance in housing immigrants, which Adams claimed cost the city up to $2 billion.
Gov. Kathy Hochul responded Saturday.
“This is an issue that breaks our hearts to see these individuals who have traveled so far under such difficult circumstances just in pursuit of the American dream. I told the mayor that I will continue to help him. We have helped and we will continue to help him. to give him support”, said Hochul.
Advocates said President Joe Biden and Congress must act.
“The federal government could solve this problem overnight by allowing people to work,” said Jack Goldfein, of the Legal Aid Society.
Goldfein argued that the city can only do so much until government help arrives.
“There are tens of thousands of New Yorkers already in the New York City housing system who would leave if the city helped them,” Goldfein said.
Adams is expected to finish his trip by late Sunday afternoon and provide an update to New Yorkers from El Paso before returning.
Christina Fan
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