NEW YORK – Hundreds of immigrants continue to arrive in New York – 1,800 have been added between Saturday and Sunday alone – despite the declaration of a state of emergency by Mayor Eric Adams last Friday, as the city prepares to open the center of where humanitarian aid services will be provided will be provided.
“Buses arrive every day,” a spokesperson for the Immigration Commissioner said, and yesterday they added eight vehicles arriving from Texas, hired by Republican Greg Abbott’s local government.
With that figure, they already exceed the 19,200 immigrants (mostly Venezuelans) who arrived in New York since last May, some alone, which has created a crisis in the city’s public reception system, which has had to resort to hotels. host them.
About 62,000 people are in reception centers, which were not prepared for such a flow of people and, according to the mayor’s office, one in five occupants of the shelters is a recently arrived immigrant.
“These are incredible figures,” said the mayor yesterday, taking part in the parade of the Hispanic heritage organized by the Italian community. “It puts a strain on our system and we need to make sure they have the support they need,” Adams said.
According to the mayor, the city plans to spend at least $ 1 billion this year to help these people and has asked for urgent help from the federal and state governments and called for a coordinated plan to move immigrants to other locations in the country.
“This is a humanitarian crisis that began with violence and instability in South America and is being accelerated by US political dynamics,” Adams said declaring a state of emergency.
The flow of people continued on Monday with more than five buses, sent without any coordination with the authorities of this city, who are building a humanitarian aid center on Randall Island where they will be received and will be able to stay for at least four days. the destination is decided in one of the hostels or at the home of friends or acquaintances, if you prefer.
Randall’s Island is located in the waters between Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx and has five bridges connecting it to the three boroughs, allowing immigrants to leave by bus or on foot to reach the city’s subway. The center had begun to be built in the Bronx but was relocated due to flood problems in the area and poor connectivity.
Rafael Pujols gives us the details of Mayor Eric Adams’ plan.
