New York City Mayor Eric Adams called off his planned trip to the southern border and Mexico following safety advisories from the State Department. The Democratic leader intended to gain insights into the migrant crisis, but concerns over safety prompted the cancellation.
Originally scheduled to depart on Saturday night, Adams aimed to visit Brownsville and McAllen in Texas, with an additional stop planned in a Mexican city. However, cautionary warnings from the White House prompted the Mayor to cancel the trip.
The decision comes amid challenges faced by New York City, with an influx of over 180,000 migrants since the spring of 2022 straining resources, including homeless shelters. Recently, Adams was compelled to revise the city’s ‘right to shelter’ policy due to increased pressure on services from the new arrivals.
Amaris Cockfield, the Mayor’s spokeswoman, emphasized the city’s commitment to collaborating with Latino leaders and organizations to address the border crisis.
Adams previously visited the southern border in January in an attempt to dissuade migrants from heading to New York. His efforts included a tour through Latin America last October, where he urged people to refrain from undertaking the perilous journey to the US.
With over 64,000 migrants currently under the city’s care across emergency shelter sites, Adams’ administration has been navigating challenges related to housing and resettlement.
Last week, an agreement was reached between city officials and human rights advocates regarding Adams’ proposal to suspend the city’s ‘right to shelter’ policy. This agreement allows for a case-by-case evaluation of migrants’ shelter needs, granting additional time based on efforts toward resettlement.
Adams had been invited to visit the southern border by Sister Norma Pimentel, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande, with hopes of fostering collaboration among faith and humanitarian leaders to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations.