Former New York Governor David Paterson lashes out at President Joe Biden for his perceived lack of preparation and response to the migrant crisis.
During an interview on 770 AM WABC’s “Cats Roundtable” show with John Catsimatidis, Paterson expressed his concern over the absence of a federal strategy and resource allocation to help states and municipalities manage the influx of migrants.
Paterson argued that even metropolises like New York are straining under the burden of tens of thousands of sheltered migrants. He warned that the backlog in asylum applications could result in dangerous individuals entering the country undetected, creating tension and potential violence between the migrant population and local residents.
New York’s immigration courts are overwhelmed with a backlog of cases. There are currently 127,000 migrant cases waiting to be resolved. Given the impending one-year deadline for asylum applications for an additional 70,000 recent arrivals, the backlog is projected to increase significantly.
New York, known for its sanctuary city status, is experiencing an immigration case backlog due to its appeal among asylum seekers. Data suggests that the city’s reputation for having immigration judges more accommodating toward immigrants, compared to most other locations, is a primary factor in attracting these applicants.
According to Syracuse University, New York judges have granted asylum in 69% of all cases over the past two decades, and more than a dozen judges have ruled in favor of migrants in at least 80% of their cases over the past five years.
Paterson’s comments mirror the dissatisfaction expressed by New York Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo toward the Biden administration’s handling of the migrant crisis. Adams has criticized the White House for not intervening to regulate the influx of migrants nor providing federal funding to assist the city in handling the expensive problem.
In a statement last month, Adams expressed frustration, stating that President Biden was nowhere to be found. He critiqued the president’s management of the national border crisis that has led tens of thousands of migrants to strain the city’s shelter capacity. Faced with a housing shortage in the city, Adams has tried to alleviate the strain on the city by moving migrants to upstate locations.
Cuomo also called out the White House’s open border policy, stating, “It was a mistake for President Biden to open the border without having a plan to handle the tremendous flow of people.”
Since last spring, New York has processed over 70,000 migrants and currently shelters approximately 45,800 asylum seekers across various accommodations. Adams is seeking federal approval to transform a large John F. Kennedy International Airport warehouse into a migrant shelter.
Paterson places the responsibility for the crisis squarely on Biden, suggesting that political figures from both left and right have been hypocritical about addressing the migrant problem.
