New York City Mayor Eric Adams has returned from his four-day trip to Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador, where he hoped to discourage migrants from coming to the city. However, his efforts seem to have been in vain, as the city continues to face a surge of asylum seekers arriving every day.
Adams’ message: New York is at capacity
The mayor’s tour was intended to counter the misinformation spread by smugglers and social media platforms, which lure migrants with false promises of jobs and luxury in New York. Adams said he wanted to give people a “true picture” of what is waiting for them in the city, where more than 100,000 asylum seekers have arrived since last year.
“We are at capacity,” Adams said at a press briefing before his departure. “We want to give people a true picture of what is here. We said give us your tired. We didn’t say give us your tired and we’re going to allow you to sleep on the streets.”
Adams also said he supported the Biden administration’s efforts to tighten the border security and deport recent arrivals from Venezuela. He said the borders should remain open, but only for those who qualify for asylum.
“It would be foolish for me to sit back and not try to stop this on a local, state, national and international level,” he said.
Adams’ tour: Mixed messages and mistranslations
However, Adams’ tour was marred by mixed messages and mistranslations that may have undermined his intended goal. For example, when a Mexican news anchor asked him whether migrants are no longer welcome in the US, he replied: “I think just the opposite. We said give us your tired. We put that call out.”
He also praised Colombia for working with the US to open offices that offer a safe and legal pathway for migrants, and expressed his desire to expand additional legal pathways. He said he wanted to work with the governments of Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, violence and climate change.
These statements may have given the impression that New York is still open and welcoming to migrants, regardless of their legal status or eligibility for asylum.
Moreover, some of his remarks were poorly translated into Spanish on social media platforms, where many potential migrants get their information. For instance, his warning about sleeping on the streets was translated as “sleeping on the beach”, which may have sounded more appealing than alarming.
Adams’ return: No sign of slowing down
Adams returned to New York on Sunday, but there is no sign that his trip has had any effect on the influx of migrants. According to city officials, about 600 asylum seekers are arriving every day, putting a strain on the city’s resources and services.
The mayor has faced criticism from some advocates and activists, who accuse him of being insensitive and inhumane towards migrants. They argue that the city should provide more support and assistance to those who flee violence and persecution in their home countries.
Others have questioned the effectiveness and necessity of his trip, which cost the city about $30,000 for his police protection. They say he should focus more on solving the problems in New York, rather than traveling abroad.
Adams has defended his trip as a proactive and pragmatic approach to deal with a complex and urgent issue. He said he will continue to work with federal and international partners to find solutions that are fair and humane for both migrants and New Yorkers.
