NYC Mayor Adams requests meeting with Trump's border czar Homan
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams long hampered by the Biden administration's immigration policy said on Tuesday that he has requested a meeting with incoming border czar Tom Homan.
"I would love to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts on how we are going to address those who are harming our citizens," Adams said during a news conference. "Find out what his plans are, where our common grounds are. We can work together."
Homan has said that he is planning to meet with Adams, who says he wants an open dialogue with the new administration.
"I don't want people talking at each other. I want people to talk to each other. I made it clear that I'm not going to be warring with this administration. I'm going to be working with this administration," he said.
Adams has for months been calling for violent migrants to be deported and seemed to welcome the Trump administration's differing philosophy.
"If you come into this country and this city and think you are going to harm innocent New Yorkers, and innocent migrants and asylum seekers, this is not the mayor you want to be under," Adams said. "I'm an American. Americans have certain rights. The Constitution is for Americans. I'm not a person who snuck into this country."
Responding specifically to the mayor's comments that the Constitution is for Americans, the New York Immigration Coalition said, "Everyone residing in the United States regardless of their immigration status has specific inalienable rights under the Constitution, including the right to due process."
On Tuesday immigration advocates in New York rallied for state funds to fight the possible mass deportation of undocumented immigrants after President-elect Trump is sworn in.
There was a time when 4,000 migrants arrived in New York City every week.
Adams said Tuesday the city has already spent over $6.4 billion to help more than 200,000 migrants bused here from the southern border. That's more than the annual budget of the entire New York City Police Department and more than double the budget of the fire department.
Adams blasted the Biden Administration for leaving the city to manage on its own.
"They hurt the future of New York City and when people hear me say $6.4 billion, they may say, 'Okay, just a billion here, billion there.' No! We didn't invest in seniors the way we should have, and young people what we should have. We all should be angry at what happened to our city under this administration," Adams said.
Although he opposes mass deportations, Adams said he believes the city should cooperate with immigration agents to deport violent criminals.
"Those who are here committing crimes, robberies, shooting at police officers, raping innocent people have been a harm to our country? I want to sit down and hear a plan on how are we going to address them," he said.
The influx of migrants reached a high point in January with 69,000 in the city's care. Last week, it was down to just over 56,000.
Since 2022, roughly a quarter million have arrived in New York.
Immigration advocates are demanding $165 million in state funding for expanded legal services.
"These folks are New Yorkers. We will give them the chance to become our neighbors. We will give them the chance to stay with their families," said New York State Representative Catalina Cruz.
Mayor Adams said he is welcoming many aspects of the Trump administration because "it is time for a change," and not because the incoming president could end the federal criminal case against him.
"It's interesting that whenever I agree on what this administration is doing, people say, 'oh you know you are agreeing, you are hoping he looks favorably on you.' Look at what they are saying and then look at what I have been saying for years. For years," Adams said, adding that his only reason for agreeing is he agrees with what they are saying.
Asked about President Biden pardoning his son, Hunter, the mayor turned to the New York Times for validation that the federal Justice Department has become "politicized."
"There's almost a level of irony to this all," he said, pulling out the newspaper. "Let me find that sentence. 'President Biden and President-elect Donald J. Trump now agree on one thing: The Biden Justice Department has been politicized.'
Adams continued to deflect talking about his looming federal criminal case, citing his attorney's instructions. He said not responding has been "the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life."
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