Mayor Eric Adams played up his close relationship with Gov. Kathy Hochul today amid a barrage of questions over the city and state’s coordination to address the escalating migrant crisis.
“There’s a lot of mayors throughout this entire state but there is no way you are going to tell me I’m not her favorite mayor,” said Adams, playfully referring to the two officials’ positive working relationship.
Adams praised the governor for her help with the planned relief centers for arriving asylum seekers. He pointed to Hochul’s activation of the National Guard as an example of her continued support.
What You Need To Know
- The mayor and governor at an unrelated press conference praised each other for New York's response to the escalating migrant crisis
- Adams praised Hochul for activating members of the National Guard and for continuing to call for federal assistance
- Hochul said she is working closely with the mayor and added the new immigration program announced by the federal government for arriving Venezuelans will hopefully stem the flood of migrants at the southern border
“We have a real double-u in how the governor has been just an unbelievable ally,” Adams said.
The mayor’s comments come as the city this week announced a second relief center at a hotel in Hell’s Kitchen that will serve about 200 families.
Adams added that the state has also been actively working with the city to identify potential state property to serve as future relief centers.
The camaraderie between the officials comes with less than a month until the November general election in which Hochul is facing a competitive challenge from Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the White House announced a new immigration policy for Venezuelans that would return any people arriving at the border unlawfully to Mexico.
The new program will create a pathway for up 24,000 qualifying Venezuelans to enter the United States. Those migrants approved by the process will be authorized to travel to the country by air and will be eligible to apply for a work visa.
Hochul said she believes the new policy will help relieve pressure at the border and help decrease the amount of migrants arriving in the city.
“There’s a whole program that I believe is going to change the dynamic very quickly,” said Hochul before adding, “that is where we are now. There is going to be a change in this situation.”
Separately on Thursday, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams toured the navigation resource center the city opened last month. He said he is pleased with the progress of the center and the help its providing asylum seekers with healthcare, legal services and enrolling children in schools.
“It’s all here now. There’s an amazing hub of services that people can get to. A one-stop-shop which is important,” said Williams.