New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, has announced a plan to provide illegal migrants with a free college education, including tuition fees, and room, and board, which is expected to cost taxpayers approximately $1.2 million in the first year.
The pilot program will be managed by Adams’ newly created Office of Asylum Seeker Operations and will provide around 100 migrants with 12 months of classes in upstate Sullivan County.
The total cost of the program has not been disclosed, but it is expected to be based on the price of two semesters at SUNY Sullivan.
Michael Rosen, a spokesperson for The Center for Discovery, said that the mayor’s office is providing funding for the necessary supplies and accommodation for the program.
However, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who serves as chair of the House Republican Conference, criticized the program, claiming that it would create a “permanent welfare system for illegal immigrants in New York State” and would reward illegal immigration.
In October, Adams declared a state of emergency for New York City due to the migrant crisis, with an estimated 50,000 migrants processed by the city since the spring, and more than 31,000 currently living in city-wide emergency shelters at a cost of around $4.6 million a day.
Last week, Adams launched a blueprint to address the multibillion-dollar migrant crisis that includes resettlements outside of New York City and job training, adding that he would not allow stumping for President Biden to prevent him from challenging the federal government’s border policies.
One of the calls to action in Adams’ blueprint is to appoint a designated leader to resolve the national border crisis and coordinate all relevant agencies and entities.
The blueprint also calls for the state and federal governments to provide additional financial and operational support to manage the asylum seeker crisis.
The blueprint states that New York City is not equipped to meet the complex needs of asylum seekers, given their current rapid rate of arrival, adding national implications to Adams’ relocation plan.
“Ultimately, New York City isn’t equipped to meet the complex needs of asylum seekers given their current rapid rate of arrival,” the blueprint says.
