Adams Defends Migrant Efforts As Feds Reportedly Bemoan 'No Exit' Plan

NEW YORK CITY — "No exit" versus "slap in the face."

Those warring words between Biden administration and New York City officials broke out this week over blame for the spiraling migrant crisis.

Mayor Eric Adams, while facing reporters' questions Thursday, cast perceived criticism over how New York City has helped asylum seekers obtain work papers as a direct attack on the city's hard-working rank-and-file workers.

City workers tasked with the taking care of everyday New Yorkers are pulling double-duty helping migrants, he said.

"A crisis that is created nationally, we're looking at a local city to solve, is that what you're saying to me?" he said.

Hizzoner's frustrated response came after an anonymous federal Department of Homeland Security said city officials had "no exit strategy" to see that migrants find their way out of shelters, according to an NBC News report Tuesday.

City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak said, if NBC's reporting is correct, that official is putting responsibility for a national crisis on New York City.

"If the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did in fact call on a municipality to develop a long-term solution to a national humanitarian crisis, it would be highly disappointing and, quite frankly, a slap in the face to cities and towns across the nation," she said in a statement.

"As we have said repeatedly, with more than 110,000 asylum seekers that have come through our care since spring 2022, and hundreds more arriving daily, we cannot continue to work to solve a national crisis that the federal government has refused to take meaningful action on."