Democrat mayor praises his handling of migrant crisis as controversial new shelter opens

Adams, in an interview with WNYM/Fox 5 NY, said his administration had done a "great job" catering to the 230,000 migrants who have arrived in the city seeking shelter and other services since the crisis began in 2022.

"Show me one who raise[s] their hand and say[s], 'bring it here,'" Adams, a Democrat, said. "We have to use smart policies. How do we bring people into locations so we could get the services and move them out?"

"When you think about it, out of those 230,000 that we've had, 70% are out of our care on to the next step. Great job on the part of this administration handling the largest humanitarian crisis we've had in this city's history." 

While Adams touted the closures of dozens of shelters, his administration opened a massive new 2,200-male migrant shelter in the Bronx on Saturday despite furious local opposition to the move, citing safety concerns, particularly for women.

The opening of the facility at 825 E. 141st St. sparked furious scenes at a Bronx community board meeting last month when residents said that they were never consulted on the decision.

Some migrants will be transferred to the Bronx site from the sprawling migrant tent shelter on Randalls Island, which is also earmarked to close as Adams' office said that 45,000 migrants are still in taxpayer-funded accommodation.

"We do not collaborate based on city law and any form of deportation based just on a deportation strategy because of civil enforcement," Adams said.

"I'm allowed under the city law to collaborate with any criminal enforcement and that is what I've been calling for two years and I'm happy there's an administration that heard me and they're willing to collaborate."

Adams said that his administration would make sure it's in compliance with both federal and city law while touting his credentials to be re-elected later this year and defiantly said he would not be resigning, despite some Democrats calling on him to do so amid a federal corruption probe. 

"I'm looking forward to showing how well we've done for the city," Adams said.