Mayor Eric Adams of New York City is fighting back against claims from the Biden administration that his administration is to blame for the delay in receiving federal funds to help cope with the migrant crisis. Adams insists that his team has been diligently submitting the required paperwork to obtain the funds, and he questions the contribution of Washington in addressing the crisis.
In response to an anonymous official in President Biden’s administration accusing City Hall of not stepping up to the plate, Adams fired back, asking if they themselves had stepped up to the plate. He emphasized that New Yorkers have already spent $4 billion to house and feed over 170,000 asylum seekers since spring 2022. Even if the full $150 million promised by the federal government is received, it would still be a drop in the ocean compared to the total cost incurred by the city.
Adams criticized the slight of hand used by the Biden administration official to divert attention from the real issue at hand. He defended City Hall’s handling of the reimbursement process, highlighting the expertise of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) team. Adams’ chief advisor also questioned why the federal government doesn’t provide resources or guidance if they feel the city is not doing an adequate job.
The federal government’s promised $150 million constitutes just 1.5% of the projected $10 billion bill that New York City is expected to face in dealing with the migrant crisis through 2025. Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged to provide $4.3 billion in state funds over the next two years to assist with the asylum seeker crisis.
During a City Council budget hearing, OMB Director Jacques Jiha revealed that two-thirds of the federal aid has not yet been received due to stringent reimbursement guidelines. Although efforts are being made to collect the remaining $107 million, Jiha acknowledged the difficulty in meeting the requirements.
As New York City grapples with the challenges posed by the migrant crisis, Mayor Eric Adams continues to advocate for the federal government to fulfill its promises and provide the necessary assistance. The city has already shouldered a significant financial burden, and Adams emphasizes the need for Washington to step up and contribute more substantially to addressing the ongoing crisis.
