Staff Reports
The White House is engaged in discussions with officials in New York City regarding the issue of illegal immigration, but it has not addressed the city’s request to declare a state of emergency. The request was made by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who claims that the immigration system in the United States is “broken.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged the frequent communication between the Biden administration and New York officials but did not specifically address the emergency request. Jean-Pierre emphasized that conversations with the mayor and governor of New York have been ongoing for some time. She pointed out that White House senior adviser Tom Perez is leading the discussions and mentioned that the administration has already allocated $100 million to address the crisis.
Jean-Pierre stated that the White House takes the issue seriously and is in regular contact with New York City on an almost daily basis. However, she did not provide any information about whether President Biden himself has spoken with Mayor Adams. When asked about the president’s involvement, Jean-Pierre said she did not have any conversations to report and redirected attention to the work of Tom Perez.
The White House says it's talking with New York City officials but had no word on requests to declare a state of emergency over illegal immigration.https://t.co/D6XZ63k6pk
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 17, 2023
The situation in New York City has become dire, with approximately 100,000 immigrants flooding into the city since the spring of 2022. Mayor Adams commended his administration for its efforts to provide shelter, food, and resources to the immigrants but expressed concern that the city is overwhelmed. Meanwhile, New York has been receiving busloads of immigrants from the southern border, further exacerbating the situation.
It is worth noting that there is some disagreement between the city and state governments regarding how to handle the influx of immigrants. Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, criticized the city for rejecting state offers of financial assistance and support for the newly arrived immigrants.
This situation in New York City highlights the ongoing flaws in the U.S. immigration system and the inability of the Biden administration to effectively address the issue. The fact that President Biden has not personally engaged with Mayor Adams is concerning, as it indicates a lack of leadership and prioritization of the crisis. The city’s request for a state of emergency should not be ignored, as it is clear that the situation in New York is reaching a breaking point. It is time for the Biden administration to take decisive action and provide the necessary resources and support to address the illegal immigration crisis in New York City.
