The Democratic mayor is facing harsh criticism over his “ad hoc” introduction of limits on how long migrants can stay in city shelters. A new report found the policy was hasty and lacked clear objectives and documented procedures.
The report, issued by Comptroller Brad Lander, examines the implementation of a policy announced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration in October 2023 that limits stays in immigrant shelters to 60 days. There is.
The policy was introduced at a time when the city was being overwhelmed by an influx of new arrivals from the border into sanctuary cities, where a “right to seek” policy existed. Adams repeatedly said throughout 2023 that the city was overwhelmed and needed more federal aid.
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A new report examines the implementation of a policy announced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration in October 2023. (Luis C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
At the time the policy was implemented, the city announced it was admitting an average of 600 people a day and still had more than 64,000 people in detention.
The policy says the city will give families with children 60 days’ notice, help them find “alternative housing” and provide additional casework services to “take the next step.”
However, the inspector general’s report found that the rule was initiated without a written purpose and that incident management consisted of “nothing more than an iterative review of alternative shelter locations.”
“Furthermore, the policy is being implemented in an ad hoc manner. There is no written policy in place for key elements of the program, and there are no written policies in place for key elements of the program, and the Not even the waivers were provided in written policy to staff or shelter providers,” the report states. “Families are not given sufficient notice of their right to return to the shelter or to request reasonable accommodations that would lead to a waiver of the rule.”
The report also found that the rule hurts immigrants’ ability to obtain work permits and unemployment, and that the city has not evaluated the program’s effectiveness.
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Single immigrant men gather in Tompkins Square Park as volunteers distribute food and clothing in the East Village neighborhood of New York City, New York, on January 27, 2024. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
Lander’s office urged the city to repeal the rule and implement what it says is a more “humane” and long-term strategy, provide additional information and move from emergency procurement to competitive bidding for providers. recommendations to transition and track the effectiveness of the program.
“Back in January, the Adams administration enacted a cruel policy of removing families from shelters every 60 days under the empty promise of intensive case management. “They repeatedly tested families as an alternative to shelter, disrupted families’ lives, tried to obtain work permits and legal status, and removed children from schools where they had made connections,” Lander said in a statement. Ta.
“Beyond the brutality of the policy, our investigation uncovered significant management deficiencies in how City Hall manages evictions and how poorly they track their outcomes. The city can do better.”
Adams’ office responded to the report by highlighting its track record in dealing with the huge number of immigrants flooding into the city. The report says it documents policies in the areas mentioned in the report to guide implementation, including policies for pregnant women, training and retirement planning. His office says it has sent more than 18,000 children in temporary housing to school and provided more than 65,000 vaccinations.
“Since spring 2022, more than 195,000 migrants have been in our care, of which more than 65,600 are still in our shelter system, with hundreds more arriving every day. “Our 30- and 60-day notices are because, as we have repeatedly said, New York City is long past breaking point as people arrive seeking shelter,” a City Hall spokesperson said. told FOX News Digital.
“Nearly half of all families whose 60-day notice period has expired, and more than 65% of all immigrants who come into our care, have children with them and are not forced to sleep. “He left the shelter system. On the street,” they said. “Some of the recommendations made in the Auditor General’s report are already part of our policy, but any ideas on how to improve our hard work are welcome and will be considered. But let me be clear: a national humanitarian crisis requires a national solution.”
The spokesperson said New Yorkers continue to demand “meaningful financial assistance, a national resettlement strategy for immigrants, and support for the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have come to this country to help them get started.” He said he is calling on the government to “finish the job”. Ready to work. ”
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Adams recently touted his crisis response and said he wants Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to stay in the shelter when he visits the city. Mr. Adams has accused Mr. Abbott of busing immigrants into the city.
“I’m going to suggest he stay in one of them.” [Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers] That way he can see what he has created and understand how we treat people with respect. He should have shown as well. ” Adams said at a press conference. When asked about Abbott’s trip to the city.
FOX News’ Kyle Morris contributed to this report.
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