New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned the city may be forced to cut public services to fund migrant assistance programs ahead of an expected influx after the pandemic-era border restriction (known as Title 42 border restriction) expires.
It is relevant to note that the New York City comptroller’s annual report released Thursday projected $1 billion in annual spending through 2026 to cover housing, education, food, and other programs for migrants.
NYC Mayor said in a statement: “Our shelter system is full, and we are nearly out of money, staff, and space, projecting an additional 1,000 migrants will begin arriving in the city weekly after the pandemic-era border restriction expires.
‘Truth be told, if corrective measures are not taken soon, we may very well be forced to cut or curtail programs New Yorkers rely on, and the pathway to house thousands more is uncertain,’ Daily Mail quoted the NYC Mayor as saying.
‘These are not choices we want to make, but they may become necessary, and I refuse to be forced to choose new arrivals over current New Yorkers,’ he said, requesting urgent state and federal budget assistance.
Adams didn’t elaborate further on which public services may face be pared back.
The Title 42 border restrictions are a public health order that enabled US authorities to turn back most migrants at the southern border, including people seeking asylum from persecution.
The pandemic-era had been extended from its original endpoint in May to this Wednesday, December 21.
‘With the expiration of Title 42 just days away, we need the federal government — both in the administration and in Congress — to share their plans to move asylum seekers to other cities, to allow asylum seekers to work, and to send aid to the cities that have borne the brunt of this crisis,’ said Adams in his recent statement.
