NYC Mayor Adams Announces Proposals To Protect Longtime New Yorkers, Immigrant Families From Repeat, Violent Offenders

Decision after a productive initial conversation with the federal government’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, and Biden administration official Kenneth Genalo at the Department of Homeland Security

Our Bureau
New York, NY

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a set of proposals to protect longtime New Yorkers, immigrants, and asylum seekers from violent, repeat offenders following a productive initial conversation with the federal government’s incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan, and Biden administration official Kenneth Genalo at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The plan comes on the heels of New York City spending more than $6.65 billion — with little to no help from the federal government — to provide shelter and a range of services to the more than 225,000 migrants who have come to New York City in the past two-plus years.

The proposals — which will continue to be updated and informed in collaboration with local, state, and federal government partners, law enforcement, advocates, and the immigrant community — include:

Continuing to advocate for bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform, which includes a national resettlement strategy, work authorization and legal pathways for asylum seekers already in cities, funding for municipalities, and securing of the border;

Exploring lawful processes to remove from New York City individuals who have been convicted of a major felony and lack legal status to remain in the United States;

Encouraging immigrant New Yorkers to come forward if they have been a victim of a crime or witnessed a crime without fear of deportation;

Establishing a “Safe Communities Working Group,” consisting of local, state, and federal officials, immigrant community stakeholders, legal experts, and faith and business leaders to make recommendations on new policy interventions to keep both longtime New Yorkers and immigrants safe;

And launching an awareness campaign to combat misinformation and to encourage immigrants and asylum seekers to continue to feel safe engaging with essential city services, including public schools, hospital systems, and public safety agencies.

A major topic of conversation at the meeting included the 500,000 migrant children who have come into the United States with sponsors but whose location is currently unknown.

“We are a city of immigrants, and we will always be true to those roots, but we also have to be honest and be clear that our immigration system is broken and a small number of repeat, violent offenders are taking advantage of that broken system,” said Mayor Adams. “It is a privilege to live in this incredible city — and the overwhelming majority of immigrants who came here know that, follow the law, and want to work as they seek the American Dream. But those who break the law and endanger others should be removed from our city after they have served jail time. This afternoon, I sat down with the Trump administration’s incoming ‘border czar,’ Tom Homan, and Biden Homeland Security official Kenneth Genalo and discussed the issues in our immigration system, including how there are 500,000 migrant youth in the country whose location is currently unknown. We don’t know if these children are in school, if they are safe, or if they are being exploited. We must find and protect these youth, and we must protect all those immigrants who contribute so much to our society, while ensuring accountability for those who break the law. We will always fight to protect New York values and all those, including immigrants, who contribute so much to our society.”

Since the first buses of asylum seekers arrived in the five boroughs in 2022, New York City has continued to focus on building the structures needed to help migrants take their next steps towards self-sufficiency. The city’s Asylum Application Help Center — a first-in-the-nation entity — has helped complete nearly 87,000 applications for work authorization, temporary protected status, and asylum. Over 70 percent of eligible adults in the city’s care either have or have applied for work authorization. The city has also purchased 47,000 tickets to help migrants reach their preferred destinations and help reduce long-term costs for New York City taxpayers.

Additionally, staff have conducted over 700,000 case management sessions with migrants dedicated to helping them identify self-sufficient pathways out of city shelter, in addition to implementing the city’s 30- and 60-day notice policies. As a result, more than 170,000 migrants who requested services from the city have taken the next steps in their journeys towards self-sufficiency. Since intensive case management services began in October 2023, 42 percent more families with children in humanitarian centers each week have taken their next steps. Additionally, over the last budget cycle, Mayor Adams successfully reduced the city’s asylum seeker spending over Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025 by nearly $2.3 billion.