New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday notably omitted the pressing issue of the migrant crisis, which has been escalating in the state due to record-high levels of illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border.
Hochul began her address by highlighting her own heritage as the daughter of Irish immigrants, but failed to acknowledge the significant strain that the influx of migrants has put on New York’s resources. Since January 2021, when President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office, the state has been grappling with the challenges of accommodating a large number of new arrivals.
The numbers are staggering: over 210,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since spring 2022, with nearly 64,000 still relying on taxpayer-funded hotels and shelters set up by Mayor Eric Adams. The situation has become increasingly dire, with reports of violence and crime emerging from these facilities. In one disturbing incident, three migrant men were charged with manslaughter after allegedly stabbing a fellow migrant at a shelter.
Furthermore, there have been alarming reports of migrants committing serious crimes, including a recent case in which a migrant from Ecuador was arrested for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in a New York City park. The NYPD has also conducted raids on migrant shelters, uncovering contraband such as guns and deadly drugs.
The financial burden on New Yorkers, who already bear some of the highest taxes in the country, is mounting rapidly. According to the latest estimates from Mayor Adams’ office, the migrant crisis is projected to cost the state a staggering $12 billion by Fiscal Year 2025.
