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By: Rob Otto
Staten Island Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) strongly criticized Queens Borough President Donovan Richards on Monday for implying that Staten Island has not taken its fair share of migrants. Malliotakis held Richards and his fellow Democrats accountable for the current migrant crisis, asserting that their support for sanctuary city policies has led to Queens bearing the brunt of the situation.
“Staten Island did not vote for this mayor, governor, or president and should not be subjected to their ridiculous policies,” Malliotakis stated. She accused Richards of hypocrisy, pointing out that he had supported the same leaders and policies that have contributed to the crisis. “He, on the other hand, embraced all three and is now complaining about the mess their policies brought.”
Malliotakis further urged Richards to denounce President Biden’s open border policies, New York City’s right to shelter, and to apologize for his support of former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s initiatives to make New York a sanctuary city. These policies, she argued, have directly led to the disproportionate burden being placed on Queens.
Richards had previously expressed frustration to The NY Post, noting that Queens houses 36% of the taxpayer-funded shelters for new migrants, significantly more than any other borough. “What about Staten Island?” he asked, highlighting the uneven distribution of responsibility.
The Post reported that the poorest neighborhoods in New York City are disproportionately affected by the influx of migrants. Queens, in particular, hosts 70 of the 193 shelters accommodating approximately 65,300 migrants. Specific areas like Long Island City have 23 government-run shelters, while Jamaica and Briarwood collectively have 20.
In response to Malliotakis, Richards argued that the real blame lies with Republican governors, such as those from Texas and Florida, who have been sending migrants to New York. He contended that Malliotakis and her party should have supported bipartisan immigration legislation aimed at tightening border security rather than adhering to “Donald Trump’s broken policies.”
The issue of sanctuary cities has long been a point of contention, particularly among Democrats who have championed these policies as a way to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, for instance, was a vocal critic of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, accusing it of terrorizing immigrant communities and overstepping its bounds. Cuomo’s administration actively promoted New York as a sanctuary state, implementing measures to limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
However, critics argue that these sanctuary policies have backfired, creating unsustainable burdens on local resources and leading to the current migrant crisis. They claim that the influx of migrants has strained public services, housing, and community relations, particularly in poorer neighborhoods ill-equipped to handle such demands.
More than 203,900 migrants have arrived in New York City since the spring of 2022, with an average of 1,100 new arrivals each week as of mid-June, according to City Hall data. While Queens and other boroughs have struggled to accommodate this surge, Staten Island, with its predominantly Republican voter base, has consistently resisted the influx.
The ongoing debate over immigration and sanctuary city policies continues to highlight the deep political divisions within New York and the broader United States. As the migrant crisis persists, the question remains whether current policies will be reformed or if the burden will continue to fall disproportionately on certain communities.
Malliotakis’ strong stance against sanctuary policies and her call for accountability from Democratic leaders underscore the ongoing tension between different political ideologies on how best to manage immigration and support affected communities.
