New York City Mayor Eric Adams has declared a state of emergency in response to a “crisis situation” due to the arrival of a large number of migrants. Over the southern border, more than 17,000 people from Republican areas like Texas, Arizona, and Florida have entered the city since April. According to Mr. Adams at a press conference, an average of five to six buses have been arriving in the city daily since September. He claims that one out of every five individuals using the city’s shelter system is trying to currently find safety. In addition, a large portion of the individuals arriving are families with school-aged children who urgently need medical attention.

The mayor is calling for assistance from the federal and state governments to help cover the costs of the inflow, which are anticipated to cost New York $1 billion this fiscal year. Mr. Adams issued an executive order authorizing the city to allot money and speed up any response activities for the refugees as part of his emergency declaration. However, a spokeswoman for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, dismissed the mayor’s Friday announcement. “The true emergency is on our nation’s southern border where small Texas border towns are overrun and overwhelmed by hundreds of migrants every single day as the Biden administration dumps them in their communities,” said Renae Eze.