The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, is seeking emergency aid from the State to assist in effectively responding to an influx of Caribbean and other asylum seekers pouring into New York.
According to Adams, current statistics surpass historic figures, and are currently averaging at 400 people arriving each day, with the highest number of arrivals so far being 835 people in one day. This, he said, is pushing the city to the brink.
Despite that, New York City is doing its best to accommodate them.
In recent times the city has had to open up 74 emergency shelters and 4 humanitarian relief centres to accommodate the incoming asylum seekers. The situation which he noted is worth making this level of request to the state, as it is one reserved for dire emergencies. The city is asking for support to shelter the asylum seekers, as it is faced with an immediate need to build capacity.
Outside of this however, Adams noted that other decompression strategies, such as relocating some asylum seekers in other parts of the country could be effective. This, however, would require better coordination at intake sites than he recalled observing during a recent visit.
Adams added that, done right, this could be a win – win situation for America.
Meanwhile, the New York Immigration Coalition, a policy and advocacy organisation which represents immigrant and refugee rights groups in New York has called for Adams to “stop scapegoating” the asylum seekers and include immigrant residents in his Fiscal Year 2024 Budget.
The group has criticised the preliminary budget for showing little investment in the support of immigrants to fully integrate and thrive in New York.