Soaring Costs of Assisting Illegal Migrants Raise Concerns in New York State and City

Amidst growing concerns over the escalating expenses related to assisting illegal migrants, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has unveiled a new online tracking tool. The tool is designed to monitor the emergency spending incurred by both New York State and New York City in providing resources for undocumented migrants, shedding light on the financial challenges faced by the region.

According to the tool, state agencies have already spent $316.2 million in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023-24 as of September 30. Equally concerning is New York City's estimated total spending for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 and FY 2024 through September 30, which is a whopping $1.89 billion.

While the intentions behind assisting undocumented migrants are noble, the financial burden placed on New York State and City is becoming increasingly problematic, especially at a time when spending is already under scrutiny. Comptroller DiNapoli emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "New York City and state are facing substantial costs for helping undocumented migrants seeking refuge in this country and needing assistance with their basic needs. My office has launched a new tool to provide transparency on this emergency spending and show why additional funding and logistical support is needed from the federal government."

The tracking tool provides a detailed breakdown of state and city spending by agency. For state agencies, the figures encompass expenditures specifically earmarked for activities like housing, emergency response, resettlement funding, and general transportation. The data will be updated every month. Notably, the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023-24 Enacted Budget Financial Plan already includes $1.5 billion in planned spending, expected to span two fiscal years, to cover emergency spending related to undocumented migrants in the United States. In a letter to President Biden, the Governor indicated the likelihood of additional spending in the future.

As of September 30, 2023, emergency spending tied to undocumented migrants has already reached $316.2 million. These figures underscore the significant financial commitments made by Executive agencies for emergency spending related to undocumented migrants. However, it is essential to note that these numbers only encompass spending explicitly designated by agencies related to this issue.

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When examining New York City's spending on this issue, the numbers are equally concerning. As of September 30, 2023, the City of New York had recorded expenditures of $1.47 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, with nearly $420 million in FY 2024. It is worth noting that the City has yet to finalize expenses for FY 2023. Most of this spending is allocated to the Departments of Homeless Services and Social Services for emergency shelter costs. Additionally, significant sums have been channeled to NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) to operate Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs) and a central intake center.

The situation has taken a more alarming turn as the City updated its cost projections in August, factoring in an accelerated influx of undocumented migrants. These revised projections anticipate spending amounts of $4.7 billion for FY 2024 and a staggering $6.1 billion for FY 2025. It is expected that allocations for projected agency spending will be revised in the upcoming November Financial Plan. New York City still needs to budget for expenses in FY 2026 and beyond, raising concerns about the sustainability of these financial commitments in the long term.