The Independent Budget Office (IBO) — at the request of Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, and New York City Council Members Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), David Carr (R-Mid-Island), and Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) — released a report estimating the cost of services that New York City is providing to the newly arrived asylum seekers.
As of early November, Mayor Eric Adams’ administration reported approximately 23,800 migrants have arrived in the five boroughs, with most looking to escape economic and civil unrest in their home countries. Based on the number who have arrived as of early November, IBO estimates the city will spend at least $596 million, which includes about $580 million in costs for shelter stays, public school costs, some health services, and immigration legal assistance. Some costs, particularly shelter, will fall into the next fiscal year, the IBO report states.
During a press conference on Sunday, Fossella and Carr explained that, “That number will only grow because this problem will not be solved any time soon and at this rate, as people have to be processed, it could be years. So we’re not surprised if this number approaches three-quarters of a billion dollars, or who knows over time, a billion dollars,” said Fossella.
“I think the BP’s right, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Carr. “Other estimates said it could be higher and as more folks come here, that could absolutely be the case because that’s the ‘X-factor.’ How many folks are going to continue trying to take advantage of our city’s generosity, of our state’s sanctuary laws, our state’s right to shelter, our requirement and basically continue to run up the tab that could be going to other Staten Islanders and New Yorkers?”
The borough president explained that the funding for asylum-seekers could be used for other city initiatives that would “benefit directly the people of Staten Island, for example.” To put the total cost of services for migrant families in perspective, Fossella said every Staten Island household could receive a check for $3,500.
