The governor of New York supports suspending the "right to shelter" as the city struggles with an inflow of migrants

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul supports the city's request to suspend a special legal arrangement that mandates it to house homeless individuals in emergency housing when migrants overwhelm the shelter system.

Hochul told reporters Thursday that the mandate was never designed to apply to an international humanitarian catastrophe, supporting the New York City's legal case.

The city has pushed to repeal the right to shelter regulation for months after over 120,000 refugees arrived last year. Since many migrants arrive without housing or jobs, the city must build emergency shelters and provide government services, costing $12 billion over the next few years.

New York City has had to house homeless people for over 40 years due to a legal arrangement. No other American big city requires it.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged a judge last week to suspend the mandate amid a state of emergency where single adult shelter populations are rising rapidly. New York state submitted a court brief Wednesday supporting the city's reasonable request.

Due to overpopulation, New York City has limited adult migrants to 30 days in city-run shelters.