New York City Mayor Eric Adams has defended his decision to work with President-elect Donald Trump’s team on the migrant crisis, urging critics to “cancel me” if they disagree. The Democrat emphasized that his focus is on protecting New Yorkers amid a historic surge in illegal immigration.
Adams has expressed optimism about collaborating with Trump’s incoming administration and border czar Tom Homan, saying, “I strongly believe in sitting down with those across the aisle.” His goal is to address the strain on New York City, which has seen over 210,000 illegal immigrants arrive in two years.
The mayor criticized the Biden administration for ignoring his repeated requests for funding, noting the city has spent $6.4 billion managing the crisis. Adams hopes Trump’s administration will provide a more effective approach to securing the border and alleviating the burden on local resources.
Adams emphasized that his efforts will target illegal immigrants committing crimes while ensuring law-abiding migrants are treated fairly. “If you come into this city and think you’re going to harm innocent New Yorkers, this is not the mayor you want,” Adams said.
His openness to collaborating with Trump has drawn criticism from progressive groups, but Adams has made clear his priority is public safety over partisan loyalty. “Cancel me, because I’m going to protect the people of this city,” he told critics.
Adams’ willingness to break from party orthodoxy highlights his frustration with federal inaction and his focus on pragmatic solutions. Whether this partnership will yield results remains to be seen, but Adams has positioned himself as a mayor willing to cross political divides for his constituents.
