Adams said that through executive orders, the counties have blocked asylum-seekers entering through New York City from being temporarily sheltered in hotels within their jurisdiction. The suit argues that they are an “unlawful attempt” that has prevented the city from addressing an ongoing statewide humanitarian emergency.
The lawsuit says that Governor Kathy Hochul's emergency order demonstrates “a large-scale humanitarian crisis and emergency” expected to worsen. New York is currently sheltering over 47,200 asylum seekers, according to the documents.
“This lawsuit aims to put an end to this xenophobic bigotry and ensure our state acts as one as we work together to manage this humanitarian crisis fairly and humanely, as we have done from the beginning and as we will continue to do,” Adams said in a statement.
According to the suit, the counties claimed that housing migrants would jeopardize community safety, which the lawsuit calls “baseless.” Adams continued to say that the city has “repeatedly sounded the alarm” that they do not have the space to continue taking on asylum-seekers at the current volume.
“Since this crisis began, New York City has — virtually on its own — stepped up to provide shelter, food, clothing, and other services to asylum-seekers arriving in our city," he said. "We are doing our part and will continue to do our part, but we need every locality across the state to do their part as well."
Recently, some Republican governors in Southern states have begun sending migrants to Northern cities as a political stunt. California Governor Gavin Newsom has threatened Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with kidnapping charges over the unlawful transportation.
Adams added: “While many communities have been overwhelmingly supportive and enthusiastic about welcoming these new arrivals to their cities and towns, some elected officials have attempted to build metaphorical walls around their localities with unlawful executive orders."
