NYC mayor Eric Adams suggests migrants be lifeguards because they're 'excellent swimmers'

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams may need a life preserver after stating that his city’s open lifeguard positions could be filled by migrants because they are “excellent swimmers.”

Adams made the comments during a city hall briefing this past Tuesday to a reporter from news outlet The City, which drew criticism and raised a lot of eyebrows.

“How do we have a large body of people in our city that are excellent swimmers at the same time we need lifeguards,” said Adams, per the Daily Mail.

“And the only obstacle is that we won’t give them the right to work to become a lifeguard. That just doesn’t make sense.”

Many were quick to bury Adams’ comments, claiming they were racist and divisive.

Murad Awadeh, CEO of New York Immigration Coalition, said, “New Yorkers are looking for Mayor Adams to unite our city, not foment more division. His comments imply that because some immigrants had to swim or wade across water on their dangerous journeys to seek safety in the U.S., that they would make good lifeguards. This comment is racist.”

“He regularly asks asylum seekers if they know how to swim, so that one day he could randomly suggest they become lifeguards at a presser?” an X user posted.

“What a revoltingly racist thing to say,” another posted. 

“Why does NYC always have terrible mayors?” another criticized.

In a New York Times report, Adams clarified his comments, stating he had visited migrant centres in New York City and asked people there if they knew how to swim. Adams said he was “blown away” by the number of people who raised their hands.

“We have these capable people who know how to swim — from West Africa, from Ecuador, from South and Central America, from Mexico — and we have a shortage of lifeguards,” said Adams. “If we start planning out now, we could be prepared next year.”

The Times reported the mayor has previously called for migrants to find work and support themselves.

“This hasn’t been new — I’ve been saying this over and over again: Let people work,” said Adams.