New York City Mayor Cancels Border Visit Due to Security Warnings
In a recent turn of events, New York City Mayor Eric Adams called off his scheduled trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, citing security concerns. The Mayor had planned to leave for Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, on Saturday night, aiming to engage with U.S. immigration officials. This visit was crucial as New York City grapples with accommodating the influx of asylum-seeking migrants.
Amaris Cockfield, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams, announced the postponement on Sunday, following the U.S. State Department’s identification of safety risks at one of the intended stops in Mexico. The Mayor’s visit was initially set up by Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, highlighting the trip’s significance in fostering collaboration and addressing the migrant crisis.
Cockfield expressed the team’s anticipation of joining forces with faith and humanitarian leaders dedicated to aiding the needy. “We were looking forward to discussing our initiatives in New York City and finding new ways to work together with leaders from various cities,” she stated. The Mayor’s office remains hopeful about continuing its partnership with nationally recognized Latino leaders and organizations to seek tangible solutions for the border crisis.
During a January visit to El Paso, Texas, Mayor Adams did not hold back in criticizing the federal government’s handling of the surge in immigrants arriving in U.S. cities distant from the border. Furthermore, in October, the former New York Police Department officer embarked on a four-day journey through Latin America, including stops in Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia. He urged individuals to refrain from undertaking the perilous journey to the U.S.
The Mayor’s office reports that since spring 2022, over 180,000 migrants have arrived in New York City, with more than 64,000 currently under the city’s care across over 200 emergency shelter sites. Recently, city officials and human rights advocates reached a consensus on Adams’ proposal to temporarily suspend the city’s “right to shelter” policy. This agreement marks the end of the city’s obligation to indefinitely provide shelter to adult immigrants. Now, the decision to extend a migrant’s stay in a shelter beyond 30 days will be made on an individual basis, contingent on the person’s active efforts towards resettlement, such as scheduling an appointment with an immigration lawyer, applying for a resettlement program, or demonstrating active housing search efforts.