David Paterson, the former governor of New York, expressed his concerns on Sunday about the increasing crime linked to migrants, including a recent subway mugging by an 11-year-old Venezuelan boy. Speaking on 770 WABC’s “The Cats Roundtable,” Paterson described the situation as “really getting out of hand,” noting an uptick in incidents that seem unprecedented. He highlighted the case of a young suspect involved in multiple Central Park robberies.
Paterson emphasized that the visible issues stem from a surge of migrants arriving too quickly for the city to manage effectively. “The first thing people notice is that this is a migrant,” he remarked, attributing the rise in criminal behavior to the rapid influx of people without adequate adjustment time. He acknowledged that while not all migrants are criminals, some are contributing to a troubling trend that negatively impacts the city’s overall quality.
The city has allocated approximately $5.5 billion to accommodate the surge in migrants since 2022. Paterson also criticized recent violence, including a protest outside a Harlem rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, which saw vandalism at the Bird in Hand restaurant. He expressed concern about the growing antisocial behavior and its encroachment into daily life.
Despite a general decrease in crime, Paterson noted that isolated incidents involving migrants and chaotic protests are creating widespread fear. He called for changes in policy or increased police presence to prevent the situation from worsening.
In a related interview, Republican Senator Ted Cruz placed blame for New York’s migrant issues on President Biden and Vice President Harris, contrasting their approach with former President Obama’s stricter enforcement of immigration laws. Cruz accused the current administration of deliberately allowing illegal immigration to escalate, leading to huge consequences for cities across America.