At least for now, there are strains of civility and cooperation between Mayor Eric Adams and the Biden administration on the ongoing migrant crisis. The question is: How long will it last?
Adams and members of the city’s congressional delegation on Thursday met with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Washington, amid a steady rise in the number of migrants coming into the city.
The mayor’s relationship with the Biden administration over the issue has been decidedly rocky, but there appeared to be a tangible outcome from the meeting – the appointment of a new Homeland Security liaison for the city.
The administration has been flat-footed in its response, but I don’t think Adams’ criticisms of them have been helpful.
“We appreciate Secretary Mayorkas’ commitment to visiting the city and designating someone at DHS to serve as a point-person on our asylum seeker needs,” Adams said in a statement after the meeting. “We look forward to his visit and learning more about DHS’ plans for how this role will operate.”
The meeting came as the city’s shelter population crossed 107,000, including 56,000 migrants. Migrants and immigrant rights advocates contend conditions at shelters are getting steadily worse, prompting some asylum-seekers to form temporary tent encampments on the streets.
Through it all, the mayor has repeatedly pushed the Biden administration to lend a hand, including asking it to develop a “decompression” strategy that would help distribute asylum-seekers in more cities across the country. But with scant assistance flowing to New York, Adams has at times vented his frustration, including in April, when he said , “the president and the White House have failed New York City” on immigration.
Mayor Eric Adams helps distribute donated food and clothing to families of asylum-seekers at a public school in February. The mayor has been critical of the…
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