Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) strongly criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams's (D) offer to host him at a migrant shelter during his visit to the city, dismissing it as a mere "gimmick" during an interview on Thursday.
Abbott, speaking on Fox News's "Hannity," stated, "The invitation is nothing more than a gimmick. And what I will suggest to the mayor of New York is there are people dying on his watch. Law enforcement officers are being gunned down by people that have been arrested 20 times, and he needs to take charge and make sure they keep behind bars dangerous criminals who are killing his fellow New Yorkers."
Abbott's remarks likely referenced the recent killing of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot at a traffic stop by a man reportedly arrested 21 times, nine for felonies. The suspect had been released from prison in September 2021 after serving nearly five years. Earlier on Thursday,
Adams highlighted the city's continued decrease in crime, consistent with trends in most other large cities across the country.
Adams, addressing Abbott's visit to New York at a press conference, said, "I’m going to offer him a stay in one of the HERRCs, so he can see what he has created and understand how we are treating people with the dignity and respect that he should have shown," referring to the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers set up to house migrants.
"I’m not quite sure why he’s here and what he’s doing while here," Adams added. "But he’s going to see how you can manage the crisis with coordination."
This exchange marks the latest development in the ongoing feud between the two leaders as they grapple with a surge in migration.
Abbott has faced criticism for sending buses of migrants to New York without prior notice, a move that has drawn ire from Adams and others.