Migrant-crisis clawbacks from NYC rise to $200M total from Trump administration

The Trump administration is now seeking to claw back even more migrant-crisis grants from New York City, bringing the total to nearly $200 million, according to Mayor Eric Adams.

Earlier this year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers disaster grants, removed from a city bank account $80 million in money that had already been allocated by Congress and paid out, and the Adams administration sued to get the money back.

This week, Adams said the city would sue over the additional cash being taken from the city.

“We are fighting for that 200 million,” Adams said Tuesday at his weekly news conference.

Adams spokeswoman Liz Garcia said the city expected $223 million from the feds.

But Adams also blamed former President Joe Biden for saddling the city with $7 billion in costs to handle the migrants.

Since spring 2022, more than 230,000 foreign migrants have come to New York City, most from Latin America, and the city has expended billions on room and board for the migrants.

Adams, whose criminal corruption case was dismissed by Trump administration in part so that Adams can assist in Trump’s promised immigration crackdown, has refused to criticize Trump by name.

A statement emailed Tuesday by FEMA’s press office cited spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, and the department’s secretary, Kristi Noem, in defending the cuts.

“Secretary Noem has clawed back the full payment that FEMA deep state activists unilaterally gave to NYC migrant hotels,” the Steelers said.

In a statement issued by spokeswoman Chloe Chik, city comptroller Brad Lander said, “Like Elon Musk stealing $80 million directly out of bank account last month, this is yet another example of federal overreach by President Trump to weaponize the federal budget to harm New York City.”

Lander’s office flagged the first clawback.