The city of New York, which previously designated itself a ‘sanctuary city’, now says it has ‘no more room’ for migrants – and that it will distribute fliers to warn immigrants crossing the border that there is “no guarantee” of help if they arrive.
Mayor Eric Adams announced the plan at a press conference yesterday saying America’s biggest city had “no more room” because some 90,000 migrants – mainly from Central and South America had arrived since April of last year.
“Our cup has basically runneth over. We have no more room in the city,” the Mayor told reporters. The city says that almost 106,000 people, which includes some 54,000 migrants, currently live in the city’s shelters or hotels.
The leaflet which is planned for distribution at the border will be printed in English and Spanish will warn asylum seekers that housing in New York is “very expensive” and the cost of food, transportation and other necessities “is the highest in the United States.”
A sanctuary city is so-called because it is seen as more friendly to illegal immigration – and police will not voluntarily disclose information about a person’s immigration status to federal immigration officials unless they are required to do so. New York passed an executive order to that effect in 1989.
A surge in illegal immigration at the border, which Republicans blame on President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, led Republican-led states such as Texas and Florida to transport migrants to Democratic-run areas.
Last month, the New York Post said that the city’s “compassion is being tested by unprecedented numbers of newcomers accompanied by unparalleled costs our leaders call “unsustainable” – and accused federal authorities of “pursuing a virtual open border policy”.
The paper also noted that an independent immigration watchdog group set the overall cost of illegal immigration in the city at a some $10 billion per year.
CHANGE IN POLICY
Now New York’s Mayor says that single adult migrants will have to reapply for shelter after 60 days to help free up space for families with children. This would appear to undermine the city’s long held ‘right to shelter’ policy.
However Ted Long, a housing official agency told reporters that: “Our compassion is infinite. Our space is not.”
The American Civil Liberties Union said that the city’s plan was “cruel” and “unlawful”, but critics of the Biden administration’s immigration policies said the reversal showed that the burden being imposed was too much for cities to bear.
“This is really incredible. NYC – the largest city in America – claims they can’t handle migrants, but assumes poor border towns in Texas can?” Republican Ohio State Representative Brian Stewart said on Twitter.
This is really incredible. NYC – the largest city in America – claims they can’t handle migrants, but assumes poor border towns in Texas can? https://t.co/0IfvIpiMyc
— Brian Stewart (@BrianStewartOH) July 20, 2023
Author and commentator, Dr Jordan Peterson also took issue with the announcement, describing the notion of a “sanctuary city” as a “idiot radical” idea.
I guess NYC is no longer a
"Sanctuary city"Any other idiot radical ideas you're dispensing with, Mayor Adams?@NYCMayor https://t.co/9fpgZSuo4k
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) July 20, 2023