Democratic mayors who have struggled to address an influx of illegal immigrants in their cities are taking out their frustrations on the Biden administration, demanding the White House grant them resources to manage the overflow, according to a Wednesday Politico report.
"What's callous is how we have been ignored as a city. And now I have to make tough decisions on the resources of New York," said New York City mayor Eric Adams at a Wednesday press conference. "It is time for the federal government to step up."
Adams's comments this week came as New York faces a surge of illegal immigrants bused in from Republican states, including Texas and Florida. Adams on Tuesday said Democratic Colorado governor Jared Polis is also planning to send migrants to New York.
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has also dealt with an influx of migrants, is similarly frustrated with the Biden administration, Adams said at the Wednesday press conference.
"When I spoke to her yesterday," Adams said, "she says, 'Eric, you know, we have been a little too patient. You know, we can't do anything to embarrass our families, but it's about time we started to do that.'"
The Biden administration told Politico the White House has been in contact with Adams and is increasing support for cities burdened by migrants.
Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser in September declared a public health emergency when the state of Texas bused migrants to the nation's capital. Bowser said Washington, D.C., would seek federal reimbursement for the city's programs to address the migrant arrivals.