NYC declares emergency as asylum seekers get bussed in

New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency last week in response to thousands of asylum seekers arriving from southern border states. The steady stream of migrant buses has overwhelmed shelter systems in the receiving cities.

Border state governors have been busing asylum seekers out of their states to protest Biden administration border policies. Since April, more than 17,000 asylum seekers have been bused to New York City from southern border states. 

Asylum seekers are people who are fleeing disasters, human trafficking, or political and religious persecution, among other things. They are legally allowed to stay in the U.S. while they wait for their cases to be heard in federal immigration court.

With Texas Governor Greg Abbott leading the way, about 10,000 of the asylum seekers were bused to New York from Texas.

Mayor Adams noted that with the new arrivals, New York City’s shelter system will reach its capacity. According to the Mayor, the city’s shelter population of more than 61,000 people is the highest number of people sheltered in the history of the system.

The Mayor’s declaration mobilizes all city agencies to coordinate relief efforts for the asylum seekers. It also suspends some land use and permitting laws so that shelters can be established quickly.

So far, 42 hotels have been set up as emergency shelters and 5,000 migrant children have been enrolled in schools. The city is also considering opening a tent shelter on Randall’s Island off of Manhattan and is exploring leasing a cruise ship to shelter about 2,700 asylum seekers.

The influx of asylum seekers comes at the same time as New York has experienced a 6% rise in homelessness. Rising rents and the end of pandemic eviction protections have forced more New Yorkers into the shelter system this year.

New York City has been required to offer shelter to all homeless persons since a court decision in 1979. New York City is also a sanctuary city. This means that the city ensures “protection for refugees, asylum seekers, torture victims, and others deserving of humanitarian refuge.”

High costs for all parties involved

As of the first week in October, Texas has spent more than $18 million to bus asylum seekers to New York City, the District of Columbia, and Chicago. On the other hand, Mayor Adams said that addressing the needs of asylum seekers will cost New York City $1 billion this fiscal year.

The District of Columbia’s shelter system has also been overwhelmed by busloads of asylum seekers. By mid-August, more than 6,500 migrants had arrived in the District from Texas. Mayor Muriel Bowser was twice rejected by the Pentagon when she asked for National Guard assistance with the humanitarian crisis.

The District has teams at the bus terminal to help connect asylum seekers with shelter and services. But Governor Abbott has had several busloads of people dropped off on the street outside of Vice President Harris’ home at the U.S. Naval Observatory without notifying local officials.

These political stunts have serious consequences for vulnerable asylum seekers needing shelter. These stunts also strain the ability of receiving cities to provide shelter and services for all homeless persons in their communities.

Mayor Adams said he has asked Texas officials to coordinate with New York, but has had little response. In the meantime, New York City is committed to honoring its humanitarian and sanctuary city obligations.