New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently responded to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s criticism of his handling of the refugee crisis.
Cuomo had recently called for the federal government to step up and provide more financial assistance for the city after it was named a “sanctuary city” for immigrants due to the Obama-era “DACA” provision.
De Blasio, however, pushed back on Cuomo’s request. The mayor argued that the city had been handling the challenge of accommodating and aiding the refugee influx “alone” and had been doing so since the beginning.
In an official press release, de Blasio noted, “We in New York City have taken this issue head on using our city’s own resources and we deserve the federal government’s full support and resources … It is our intention to both protect and defend our immigrants and refugees and not look towards Washington for bailouts.”
The mayor further provided statistics that show the city’s budget for refugee assistance programs had more than tripled under his tenure, which has proven inadequate in accommodating the influx of immigrants.
De Blasio concluded his statement by emphasizing, “We will continue to support the values of New York City and to do our part to make sure that those individuals fleeing violence and poverty are supported on their paths to safety and equality. It’s our responsibility to do so and Congress must live up to its promise to aid the states & localities that are doing so much.”
The mayor’s response came after Governor Cuomo had publicly called on the federal government to step in and provide additional funding, suggesting the city had been doing “all the work here” without help from Washington.
This isn’t the first time the mayor has called on the federal government to assist the city with matters of immigration. Last year de Blasio made a similar plea, demanding that Congress take action to address the “humanitarian crisis” of migrants and refugees.
While both the mayor and governor advocate for the same cause, de Blasio’s response made clear that he is unwilling to look to Washington for financial assistance in dealing with the refugee crisis. Despite his reluctance, he noted that the city would continue to do its part to ensure the safety of immigrants and refugees and urged Congress to do the same.
