NYC Mayor Eric Adams visits southwest border to discuss immigration crisis with El Paso officials

New York City Mayor Eric Adams visited the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso on Sunday to talk with border officials about the ongoing immigration crisis in the nation. 

Adams met with El Paso city and county officials, including Mayor Oscar Leeser to see the impact that the surge in migration has had in the region and the local community.

During his visit to the Texan city, he toured the U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility and the border itself. Additionally, the New York City mayor also visited shelters that are housing the migrants and a facility providing support services for new arrivals.

On the ground in El Paso last night. This is a national crisis and we need a national solution. Mayors like @OscarLeeser and I are on the front lines and we need federal support. pic.twitter.com/MkD8xZelNf

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) January 15, 2023

Adams’ visit comes as thousands of migrants are being sent from border states to New York City since the spring of last year, causing an overflow of the city’s shelters and processing centers. 

More than 44,000 migrants have arrived in the city since April. Last week, more than 3,100 asylum seekers arrived in the Big Apple, with 835 migrants arriving on Thursday alone, breaking records for the most ever received in a single day.  

On Friday, Mayor Adams issued an emergency aid request to the state to help shelter the incoming migrants, which are costing the city more than $2 billion. 

"This is an issue that is heartbreaking for all of us to see these individuals who traveled so far under such difficult circumstances just in search of the American dream. I told the mayor I'd be continuing to help him. We've been helping him for many months. We'll continue to give him support," said New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in response to the request on Saturday.