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Mayor Eric Adams called on President Biden Wednesday to close the southern US border to migrants until after their asylum applications can be reviewed — embracing a key aspect of Donald Trump’s “remain in Mexico” policy in a bid to stem the escalating crisis in New York City.

In a Washington Post op-ed, Adams outlined a “decompression strategy” that would also include establishing plans to settle the migrants in the US prior to entry.

In addition, Adams said he wanted to see a system created “to fairly distribute newcomers regionally.”

A source close to the mayor and familiar with his thinking said there could be exceptions to the border-closing in cases of “true emergencies” but that those would likely be rare.

Adams’ proposals are part of a six-point plan that also includes federal funding for border screening and “localities where the migrants end up,” as well as  “expedited right-to-work status,” and a “clear, congressionally passed pathway to residency or citizenship” for those who are admitted.

Adams’ plan was published just hours after he unveiled another demand: that Biden immediately appoint someone whose sole job would be to oversee the migrant crisis and coordinate all government agencies involved with it, including the US Border Patrol.


  Mayor Eric Adams has called on President Biden to appoint someone to develop a “decompression strategy” for the migrant crisis. Politico Mayor Eric Adams has called on President Biden to appoint someone to develop a “decompression strategy” for the migrant crisis. Politico

In a not-too-veiled shot at both Vice President Kamala Harris — who Biden named his border czar almost two years ago — and embattled Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Adams said that “the White House must assure the immediate needs of cities that are impacted.”

“You see the support they deserve,” Adams said. “And that includes a person with the singular responsibility of a decompression strategy and other methods to address the asylum-seeker crisis we’re facing.”


  Adams said his proposed border czar would ensure cities “get the support they deserve” in dealing with migrants. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Adams said his proposed border czar would ensure cities “get the support they deserve” in dealing with migrants. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Biden temporarily suspended Trump’s 2019 “remain-in-Mexico” policy  which barred non-Mexican migrants from entering the US while their asylum claims were pending — after taking office in January 2021 and later canceled it, but that move was blocked in December by a federal judge in Texas.

Adams’ comments came during a virtual interview with Politico tied to his participation in the annual winter meeting of the US Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC.

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Migrants from Texas arriving at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan on January 5, 2023.
Migrants from Texas arriving at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan on January 5, 2023.Gregory P. Mango
Migrants leaving the Port Authority to go to a shelter.
Migrants leaving the Port Authority to go to a shelter.Daniel William McKnight
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A group of migrants outside of the Stewart Hotel in Manhattan on January 6, 2023.
A group of migrants outside of the Stewart Hotel in Manhattan on January 6, 2023.J. Messerschmidt/NY Post
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Adams said he planned to discuss the ongoing influx of migrants across the southern US border “with my colleagues across the country, particularly those who are directly impacted by the crisis.”

Hizzoner said the city recently said that providing the city’s 40,000-plus migrants with housing, food and other services could cost as much as $2 billion, double the initial estimate when he declared a state of emergency in October.

City Comptroller Brad Lander — who’s been feuding with Adams over the issue — has estimated the cost at $1 billion annually for at least the next three fiscal years.

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Migrants outside of the shelter at Sacred Heart Church in El Paso on January 6, 2023.
Migrants outside of the shelter at Sacred Heart Church in El Paso on January 6, 2023.James Keivom
A migrant sleeping outside in El Paso.
A migrant sleeping outside in El Paso.James Keivom
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Migrants crossing the Cesar E. Chavez Border Highway after crossing the border near El Paso on January 1, 2023.
Migrants crossing the Cesar E. Chavez Border Highway after crossing the border near El Paso on January 1, 2023.James Keivom
Mayor Adams meeting with migrants during his trip to El Paso.Twitter/Mayor's Office
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Adams said Wednesday that the city has spent about $300 million to date.

Also Wednesday, Adams called it “extremely alarming” that Democrats were losing the support of Asian and Latino voters “because we are not speaking to those people” about crime and other “important, bread-and-butter issues.”

“We have allowed the far, far left of our party to define us,” he said. “We are not a party of defunding police. We’re a party of supporting good law enforcement. We’re a party of understanding the importance of child care, a party of understand[ing] housing.

“We need to talk to those real issues and not at New Yorkers,” the former NYPD lieutenant said.

When pressed on his relationship with outspoken socialist US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-The Bronx, Queens) — with whom he’s clashed recently through political proxies — Adams acknowledged that they “have a certain philosophical disagreement on certain things.”

“But we come from the same background, for the most part, of working-class families. “And I think when you look at the core of what she desires for her constituency, it’s the same thing I desire for the people of the city of New York.”

Hizzoner added: “Sometimes, we have different roads on getting there. My road may be different from hers, but we have the same destination.”

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