Eric Adams calls for an END to sanctuary cities as New York City struggles to care for close to 200,000 migrants who've arrived in last 18 months

New York Mayor Eric Adams has called for a radical overhaul of its sanctuary city status in a spectacular u-turn as the city buckles under the weight of migrant arrivals.

The Democrat leader has faced a furious backlash as schools, hotels and community centers have been turned over to the 180,000 migrants who he has warned will 'destroy' the city.

He has been a staunch defender of its decades-old sanctuary status which forbids city officials from asking questions about a person's immigration status, or revealing it to federal authorities.

But he revealed his change of heart after furious residents grilled him about migrant crimes including January's brutal Times Square attack on two cops that saw most of the suspects freed on bail within hours of their arrests.

'We need to modify the sanctuary city law that if you commit a felony or violent act we should be able to turn you over to ICE and have you deported,' he told a town hall meeting on Monday night.

New York City Mayor repeated his remarks at a press conference on Tuesday: 'We should not be allowing people who are repeatedly committing crimes to remain here and we cannot collaborate with ICE in the process' he said

More than 180,000 migrants have arrived in New York since spring of 2022 costing the city billions of dollars in social welfare provision  

But tensions have spiked in the wake of a series of high-profile crimes including the notorious gang attack on two NYPD officers by Venezuelan migrants in Times Square last month 

More than 560 cities, states and counties have declared themselves sanctuaries since the early 1980s and New York adopted the status under former Democrat Mayor Ed Koch.

But sanctuary cities have been a favorite target of governors on the southern border who have bussed thousands of migrants north to them as the migration crisis has gathered steam.

Police in the city are not allowed to arrest anyone because they are an illegal immigrant and the city will not co-operate with an investigation by immigration authorities unless ordered to by a court.

Adams insisted 'We should protect our immigrants. Period.' when running for office in October 2021, adding: 'New York City will remain a sanctuary city under an Adams administration.'

As recently as last month he was defending the status after it was attacked by Nikki Haley for encouraging illegal migration during a Republican primary debate.

'This has nothing to do with sanctuary cities, migrants and asylum seekers are paroled into the country, they're here legally,' he told Fox News.

But the city expects to have spent $10.6 billion by the end of 2025 and announced a budget in December that would cut the number of NYPD officers by a fifth and the education cut by $1 billion hit over two years.

Migrants pick up clothes as mutual aid groups distribute food and clothes under cold weather near the Migrant Assistance Center at St. Brigid Elementary School last month in New York

Adams has desperately turned to a variety of city landmarks, makeshift shelters and temporary housing to find room for the migrant influx, including former Catholic school St. John Villa Academy (pictured) in Staten Island 

Adams received backlash for announcing a $53 million debit card scheme that could give a family of migrants with two children under the age of 17 up to $15,200-a-year

'Let me tell you something, New Yorkers,' Adams told a public meeting in September. 'Never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to. I don't see an ending to this.

'This issue will destroy New York City. Destroy New York City.'

He faced more pressure this week over his plans for a $53 million debit card scheme that could give a family of migrants with two children under the age of 17 up to $15,200-a-year.

Sanctuary status has come under growing pressure in other cities dealing with the migrant influx, and Chicago's Democrat leaders were slammed for blocking a vote on ditching its sanctuary city status in at the end of last year.

Mayor Brandon Johnson ordered his lieutenants to quash a bid to put the controversial 'Welcoming City Ordinance' to a referendum on Chicago's March primary ballot.

Adams admitted earlier this month that he would use his executive authority to override some sanctuary provisions if he was allowed as he was challenged by Republican city councilors.

And his u-turn was greeted as a 'welcome change' by City Councilman Joe Borelli.

But the Legal Aid Society said reform would criminalize the innocent.

'What Mayor Eric Adams seeks would result in local law enforcement being able to transfer New Yorkers merely suspected of a crime to ICE, upending local criminal court proceedings while perpetuating family separation and dividing communities,' it said in a statement.

Adams blamed Congress for his handling of the crisis on Monday night, insisting his hands were tied by Federal laws.

'People tell me all the time, they see me on the street and they say, 'Well Eric why don't you stop the buses from coming in?' It's against the law, I can't,' he told the meeting.

'Why don't you allow those who want to work – allow them to work?' It's against the law – the federal law – I can't.

The Big Apple has been inundated with an influx of migrants that the mayor's office has estimated will cost taxpayers $10.6 billion over three fiscal years

Schools, nursing homes and a string of landmark hotels have been requisitioned to house many of the 180,000 migrants who have arrived in the city since the spring of 2022

'Why do you say you have to house everyone that [comes] in?' Because that's the law.

'Why don't you deport those who commit crimes and harm people that are not doing the right thing?' It's against the law, I can't.

'So I am inheriting a national crisis that I have to resolve and we are resolving that crisis like no other city, folks.

'Go Google other cities. You don't see tent cities in New York. You don't see children and families sleeping on the street in New York. This team here has managed the crisis each time they come.'