A federal judge blocked New York City’s request for President Donald Trump’s administration to claw back $80 million in FEMA funds. (Getty/AP)
"This morning, our office learned about the federal government clawing back more than $80 million in FEMA grants applied for and awarded under the last administration, but not disbursed until last week," Mayor Eric Adams, D-N.Y., said in an X post the day the lawsuit was filed.
The lawsuit said the funds were revoked on Feb. 11, after Elon Musk said the Department of Government Efficiency found a $59 million FEMA payment to New York City for luxury hotels used to house illegal migrants. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said she rescinded the funds over concerns that the Roosevelt Hotel is the "Tren de Aragua base of operations."
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu testifies during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing in Washington, D.C., on March 5, 2025. (Anadolu via Getty Images)
The ruling came as Adams and his fellow "sanctuary city" Democratic mayors testified about their response to the migrant crisis on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
"I’m here today to testify on how New York City can continue to reduce crime, even as a sanctuary city," Adams told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
"To be clear: A sanctuary city classification does not mean our city will ever be a safe haven for violent criminals. It also does not give New York City the authority to violate federal immigration laws. To the contrary, New York City will always comply with city, state, and federal laws, as it does now," Adams added.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, center, speaks during a news conference outside Gracie Mansion on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 in New York. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
Adams vowed to protect law-abiding New York City residents, regardless of immigration status, while also directing NYPD officers to comply with DHS and ICE. The mayor’s comments reflect his ongoing effort to strike a balance between protecting New Yorkers and coordinating with the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown.
As New York City struggled to keep up with the busloads of migrants entering the city's overwhelmed shelter system, Adams was critical of former President Joe Biden's handling of the migrant crisis.
In his plight against the migrant crisis, Adams has developed a relationship with Trump – holding a private meeting with the president in West Palm Beach, Florida, and then meeting with border czar Tom Homan to discuss the migrant crisis in New York City.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Homan said he would hold Adams to his commitments, telling "Fox & Friends," "If he doesn't come through, I'll be back in New York City, and we won't be sitting on the couch. I'll be in his office, up his butt, saying, 'Where the hell is the agreement we came to?'"
Adams' office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News’ Michael Dorgan and Grace Taggart contributed to this report.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-city-denied-request-fema-return-80m-migrant-funds