New York City Mayor Eric Adams praised former President Donald Trump’s border security efforts during a podcast appearance Wednesday, saying they brought “real relief” to the city’s overwhelmed migrant system.
Speaking with Miranda Devine on the “Pod Force One” podcast, Adams acknowledged that stricter enforcement at the southern border—carried out during the Trump administration—has helped drastically reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving in New York.
“We’re now down to fewer than 100 asylum seekers entering our city each week, and that’s because of the Trump administration securing the border,” Adams said. “You’re no longer seeing thousands flood in, and it’s been a major relief for our city.”
Adams Blames Biden Policies, Links Indictment to Criticism
Adams, a Democrat, didn’t shy away from criticizing the Biden administration’s immigration approach and suggested his vocal opposition may have triggered the federal investigation that led to his now-dismissed indictment.
“When I was on my way to D.C. to raise concerns about the migrant crisis, the FBI raided the home of my fundraiser,” Adams said. “I believe that investigation was politically motivated and tied to my public criticism of the administration’s handling of immigration.”
Adams was indicted last year on bribery and fraud charges, but in April, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York dismissed the case with prejudice.
Cost of Migrant Crisis in NYC
Adams also highlighted the strain on New York’s finances, noting that the city has spent $7.7 billion on shelter, food, and services for migrants over the past few years.
“That money could have gone to other critical services,” Adams lamented. “We lost billions that will have long-term consequences.”
Adams Aligns with Trump on DOJ ‘Politicization’
The mayor echoed Trump’s repeated claims that the Department of Justice under President Biden has become weaponized for political purposes.
“I agree with President Trump—it’s become too politicized,” Adams said. “That’s the kind of lawfare we’re seeing. What happened to me and others shouldn’t happen in a democracy.”
He even pointed to Biden’s own remarks during his son Hunter’s legal troubles as evidence of the DOJ’s political entanglements, saying, “We’re heading in the wrong direction when our justice system is used this way.”
ICE Raids and Public Safety
Adams, who has previously warned activists not to interfere with ICE operations, reiterated that the NYPD would protect federal agents during immigration enforcement actions in the city.
The comments reflect Adams’ increasingly public split from the Biden administration on immigration policy—and his growing alignment with some of Trump’s core criticisms.
