Record levels of illegal immigration at the United States-Mexico border have caused a continuing migrant crisis in New York, which has been largely ignored by Governor Kathy Hochul (D) during her speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday. Despite her opening remarks about her Irish immigrant roots, Hochul did not mention the strain this influx of migrants has placed on New York’s housing, social services, and finances since President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office in early January 2021.
Since the spring of 2022, more than 210,000 migrants have arrived in New York City, with nearly 64,000 of them still living on taxpayers’ dime in migrant hotels and shelters set up by Mayor Eric Adams (D. Adams is currently considering closing one such shelter following a string of violent incidents at the facility. In one case, three migrant men were charged with manslaughter after allegedly stabbing another migrant at the shelter.
In June, a migrant from Ecuador was arrested after allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at knifepoint in broad daylight in a New York City park. In August, officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) raided the migrant shelter in search of contraband, including guns and deadly drugs.
The financial burden on New Yorkers is growing rapidly. According to figures from Adams’ office, the migrant crisis will cost New York taxpayers an estimated $12 billion by Fiscal Year 2025. As one of the most highly-taxed states in the US, this added expenditure is sure to further burden residents who are already struggling with the high cost of living.