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.