8 in 10 New Yorkers say migrant surge is serious problem: survey

More than 8 in 10 New Yorkers said the recent migrant surge to the Big Apple is a “serious problem,” which comes as New York struggles to house the influx of asylum-seekers into the state, according to a new survey. 

A poll published Tuesday from Siena College found 82 percent of New York voters surveyed said the recent influx of migrants to the state is a “serious problem,” and 54 percent of participants described it as “very serious.” 

Furthermore, 46 percent of the respondents said migrants resettling in the state over the past 20 years are a “burden” not a “benefit,” while 58 percent said the state has already done enough and should slow the flow, rather than continue to accept and assimilate new migrants. 

“New Yorkers – including huge majorities of Democrats, Republicans, independents, upstaters and downstaters – overwhelmingly say that the recent influx of migrants to New York is a serious problem for the state,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. 

While there is partisan agreement over the migrant surge being a serious problem, Greenberg said a plurality of Democrats see the resettlement of migrants in New York as a benefit, while a majority of independents and two-thirds of Republicans described it as a burden to the state. 

More than three-quarters of Republicans and 60 percent of independent voters said New York has done enough and should slow the flow of migrants instead of accepting and assimilating them, while Democrats were more evenly divided, according to Greenberg. 

The poll also found around 50 percent of voters support relocating new migrants from temporary accommodations to permanent housing in communities across the state, with strong support from Democrats and New York City voters. Greenberg said Republicans are strongly opposed to it, while independents and noncity voters are closely divided but lean toward opposition. 

The poll comes as New York City has struggled to house the influx of asylum-seekers.

Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams renewed his calls for federal assistance for migrant housing. Adams said he is welcoming toward immigrants but believes the cost is not sustainable over the next three years. 

The city has received around $140 million in federal funding for shelters, more than any other city away from the southwest border. 

Last month, Adams announced new shelter limits for adult migrants in an effort to make room for families and children. Earlier in June, New York City filed a lawsuit against 30 New York counties over refusing asylum-seekers.

Nearly half — or 47 percent of participants surveyed — said they disapprove of the job Adams is doing with regards to migrants, compared to 31 percent who said they approved. Just more than half — 51 percent of voters — said they disapproved of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) job, while 35 percent of voters said they approve.

The Siena College poll was conducted Aug. 13-16 among 803 New York state registered voters. It has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.