'Help is not on the way': Eric Adams faces grim reality Biden will not aid NYC in fixing migrant crisis

After meeting with congressional leaders and members of the Biden administration Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was not optimistic about getting help from the federal government to deal with the illegal immigration crisis his city is dealing with. 

Adams noted in a Friday press conference that the city's residents are weary, angry, and "seeing the impact of the migrant and asylum seeker issue, how it is taking away from the resources that should go to the day‑to‑day services of running the city."

He said that he "did not walk out from D.C. with any level of optimism that anything is going to drastically change." Adams added, "It is clear that for the time being, this crisis is going to be carried by the cities." 

Adams told the crowd that the city is in an "untenable situation right now" as it faces a $7 billion budget deficit, and it is "painful for the city" because "our federal government actions have taken a toll on the people of this city." 

"As I left Washington D.C., I did not leave with optimism, I left with the cold reality that help is not on the way in the immediate future," Adams added. "It's going to be up to New Yorkers and this administration to continue to navigate this challenge that we're facing."

In November, Adams was forced to slash the New York Police Department's budget to pay for the massive influx of illegal immigrants entering the city. At the time he said, "No city should be left to handle a national humanitarian crisis largely on its own, and without the significant and timely support we need from Washington, D.C."

The mayor warned in September that the illegal immigrant crisis would "destroy New York," and teamed with mayors from other Democrat-led cities to petition President Biden for funding or make other changes to help alleviate stress on their systems.