Feds pull more than $188M meant to reimburse NYC for migrant services, Adams says
New York City Mayor Eric Adams says the federal government is pulling more than $188 million in funding that was allocated to reimburse the city for migrant shelters and services.
Adams said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently told him they plan to terminate the congressionally approved funding for three shelter and services grants.
This follows the more than $80 million that FEMA withdrew back in February over the city's migrant services.
In a letter, FEMA said it wanted the money back because "the individuals receiving these services often have no legal status and are in the United States unlawfully. This, in turn, provides support for illegal aliens and is not consistent with DHS's current priorities."
New York City already sued the federal government for pulling the previous funds. That lawsuit remains in the courts.
Adams says pulling funding is "unlawful"
During his weekly press briefing, the mayor pointed out that while he is fighting this administration for roughly $200 million, the city had to spend $7 billion on the migrant crisis under the Biden administration.
"We're going to fight for every penny. No matter what it is, this should not be carried on the backs of taxpayers," he said Tuesday, going on to say, "If you're angry over $200 million, why weren't you infuriated over $7 billion?"
In a statement, Adams called the latest move "unlawful," saying, "Like their previous actions clawing back appropriated funds, these steps are unlawful, and the New York City Law Department is currently determining the best legal recourse to take to ensure that this money remains in New York City, where it was allocated and belongs."
He went on to say the $188 million is the "bare minimum" that New York deserves for shouldering the burden.
As I have repeatedly said, New York City did not create this crisis — it was caused by decades of federal inaction and failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Yet, New Yorkers — and residents of other major cities across the country — have been forced to pay the price. With minimal help from the federal government, our administration has skillfully managed an unprecedented migrant crisis, during which more than 234,000 people have entered our city seeking shelter, costing taxpayers over $7.5 billion in just three years.
Simply put, this SSP grant from the federal government is the bare minimum New York taxpayers deserve. We will continue working to ensure our city's residents receive every dollar they are owed and to prevent this funding clawback from taking effect.
Adams also made it clear that there is a difference between his strident criticism of the Biden administration's immigration policies and his fight to make sure city taxpayers aren't left on the hook for money already spent. He said he's frankly happy that President Trump closed the borders and is trying to get immigrants who commit crimes out of the country.
"My ask of the Biden administration is, let's go after those dangerous gang members that are creating violent crimes among migrants and asylum seekers in everyday New York, it's documented and undocumented. They didn't wanna do that. This administration's doing that. Hats off to the Homeland Security secretary," Adams said. "We say hooray to that."
Hochul slams cuts to resiliency project funding
The mayor's actions come as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul slammed the Trump administration for imposing cuts totaling $325 million for resiliency projects after the state was hit with several damaging hurricanes. She said communities will be left vulnerable to future storms.
"As I've said all along: no state in the nation can backfill the massive cuts being proposed in Washington, and it's critical New Yorkers stand united to call out the damage this will cause," she said in a statement.
City communities stripped of funds to ward off damaging floods are Central Harlem, East Elmhurst, the Kissena corridor in Queens, the South Street Seaport, Corona, Hunts Point and stormwater protection projects for several NYCHA complexes.
