Seriously, George?
Even serial-lying, scandal-scarred Rep. George Santos (R-NY) is expressing outrage and indignation over New York’s migrant crisis — and mocking Democrats for fumbling the issue.
“The mayor is in Israel, running away from the fact that this crisis is increasing,” said the congressman.
Santos, who is under a 13-count federal indictment for alleged fraud and money laundering, held a press conference Tuesday morning outside the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, home to a new “tent city” in Queens.
Santos said the Democrats own the migrant crisis because they are in charge and have failed to secure the border and restrict the flow of migrants. He’s joining other Republicans in a bid to use the migrant issue as a political club against Democrats — and perhaps divert attention from his own funny-money scandals.
“The policies are led by House Democrats, Democrats in the White House, Democrats in the Senate,” he said.
He particularly slammed Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the powerful majority leader, as part of the problem.
Embattled Rep. George Santos spoke out about the migrant crisis at a press conference outside the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center “tent city” in Queens on August 22, 2023. FNTV
Migrants arriving at the Creedmoor shelter on August 15, 2023. Matthew McDermott“This is Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden’s border and migrant crisis … Chuck Schumer is from New York City. Do something about this,” Santos said
“Enough is enough,” he added.
Santos criticized Mayor Eric Adams for visiting Israel this week amid the migrant crisis. FNTVThe first-term congressman claimed that Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul are opening migrant shelters in “quaint” suburban districts like his, which vote Republican.
In fact, at least 198 NYC emergency migrant shelters are located across all five boroughs.
Santos said the emergency migrant shelters should be placed in districts of far-left Democratic reps who support lax border and immigration policies.
The inside of the “tent city” for migrants at the Creedmoor. Matthew McDermott
Santos called for shelters to be built in the districts of progressive Democrats. Matthew McDermott“Put it in Jamaal Bowman’s district, put it in AOC’s [Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s],” he said, referring to two progressive New York City House Democrats.
He also rapped the small six-member bloc of Republicans in the City Council for not doing more to raise the alarm about the city moving to open emergency migrant shelters across the city.
More than 100,000 migrants have passed through New York City, and 57,000 currently receive assistance or shelter in nearly 200 facilities, according to City Hall.
Aside from securing the border, Santos said the president and Congress need to hire more immigration judges to curb the massive backlog in asylum application cases, and recommended redirecting resources from the IRS to do that.
A City spokesperson responded, “Mayor Adams has been front and center managing this crisis largely alone since the Spring of 2022. In that time, we have provided compassion and care to more than 100,000 asylum seekers, opened more than 200 sites, including 15 large-scale humanitarian relief centers.
“The only person `running away’ is Representative Santos, once again, from the truth,” the Adams rep said.
Schumer declined comment.
