Staff Reports
In a bold effort to address the increasing influx of illegal border crossings into New York City, Mayor Eric Adams took decisive action. Last week, he embarked on a whirlwind tour of Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia, with the hope of discouraging migrants from undertaking the perilous journey to the Big Apple. Given that NYC is receiving approximately 600 illegal immigrants daily, it appeared to be a logical step. However, as expected, Adams' appeal failed to make an impact.
During his tour, Adams did not explicitly say to migrants, "Don't come to New York." Instead, his aim was to dispel the misinformation that these migrants may have about the city. He sought to clarify that they wouldn't automatically find employment in a luxury hotel. It raises questions about where these migrants may have gotten such impressions. Perhaps it's because they see other illegal border crossers receiving comfortable accommodations, such as at the Row NYC. Moreover, Governor Kathy Hochul's revelation that there are 18,000 job opportunities available to those with work authorizations only adds to the mixed messages.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams: “We believe the border should remain open, that is the official position of this city.”
Is he a delusional moron or just ignorant?https://t.co/IUPlhSqtC6
— Proud Elephant ??? (@ProudElephantUS) October 8, 2023
Despite Adams' efforts, it seems migrants remained undeterred. While he was in Quito, Carlos Gabriel Hernández and his family were determined to reach New York, despite being in close proximity to Adams. Hernández was perplexed, even offended, by the purpose of Adams' visit, questioning, "How can you tell someone not to pursue their American dream?" Well, Carlos, perhaps because your dream shouldn't involve breaking the law and placing a burden on American taxpayers.
Jhonatan Antony Velásquez Diaz, who endured a grueling 22-day trek from Venezuela, also expressed skepticism. Even after being robbed at gunpoint during his journey, he remains resolute in reaching New York based on accounts from friends who made it there. This undermines Adams' efforts to dispel the idea that these migrants are guaranteed employment. It appears that word-of-mouth from fellow illegal border crossers carries more weight than the words of a politician.
Then there's Raúl Alfredo Chica, who made it to Texas before being arrested and detained for two months. He eventually returned home, defeated. Yet, his wife still aspires to go to New York, despite the challenges he faced firsthand. This is particularly difficult to accept when considering that NYC is allocating a substantial $12 billion to house and support illegal border crossers over the next three years—a use of taxpayer funds that could be directed to address the needs of American citizens.
In retrospect, Adams' trip proved fruitless. His message did not resonate with migrants who remain resolute in reaching New York. Their determination is not easily swayed by the words of politicians or mayors. Instead of investing time and taxpayer money in this futile tour, Adams should focus on upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the interests of the American people.
