NYC Mayor Adams is discussing posing a curfew for Migrant Shelters after an uptick in complaints from neighbors claiming migrants have been going door-to-door begging for food and clothing.
According to the mayor’s director of Asylum Seeker Operations on Thursday, a curfew was something they were considering. According to Queens Councilwoman Joanna Ariola, a 10 p.m. curfew has already been set across homeless shelters in New York City.
Mayor Adams admin ‘definitely’ considering curfews at NYC migrant shelters amid panhandling complaints
The possible curfew orders come as some 69,000 migrants continue to be housed in city shelters.https://t.co/XAIjghzEG4
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) January 11, 2024
“I asked questions about the possibility of a curfew at migrant shelters. I think a curfew should be set because homeless people staying in New York City shelters have curfews,” Ariola said.
People living near the migrant shelters have made numerous complaints concerning the increase of shelters showing up across the city. Over the recent months, NYC has accommodated thousands of illegal immigrants from the southern U.S. border.
David Ferguson, a Brooklyn resident, described the situation as an invasion of the city. “I see them sitting outside stores, outside the mall, and going around to all the houses in the neighborhood, knocking on the door looking for money,” Fitzgerald said in December.
Many illegal immigrants have raised concerns about safety, including the fragility of the shelter during winter storms. Additionally, many illegal immigrants refuse to stay at the shelters because they aren’t near the city or schools.
This comes after only this week when the city buses Illegal immigrants to seek shelter at James Madison High School, forcing its students to work remotely.
Due to the isolation, many illegal immigrants have been overwhelming nearby neighborhoods, begging for food and clothing. Many residents describe it as occurring regularly with no end in sight.
“I don’t think they should be at Floyd Bennett Field anyway. It’s not a good living environment for people, certainly for families, and it’s just not good enough. And if there is no room for them to be here, then they should not be here,” Fitzgerald commented.
Additionally, panhandling is the only thing on the rise in NYC. Neighbors say there’s also been an increase in fatal stabbings and drug deals since the shelters popped up. During a meeting on Thursday, Mayor Adams discussed installing metal detectors but didn’t mention when they’d be enforced.
After the concerns of the community, the administration is considering all options.
