What you should know
- New York City is considering possible curfews for immigrants currently housed in city shelters.
- This is the latest effort to alleviate the symptoms of the migration crisis, specifically asylum seekers who are allegedly going door to door asking for cash and food.
- Residents in surrounding neighborhoods said they now see migrants knocking on doors, asking for money, clothing, baby items and food.
NEW YORK — On Sunday, New York City leaders confirmed approval for curfews for immigrants currently housed in city shelters.
The curfew will go into effect this week and will be enforced at New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) locations located in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.
“New York City continues to lead the nation in managing this national humanitarian crisis, and that includes prioritizing the health and safety of both the migrants in our care and long-time New Yorkers living in the communities surrounding the emergency shelters that we manage,” said a City Hall spokesperson. “Starting this week, we will institute a curfew policy at our NYCEM emergency sites, in line with the curfews already in place at traditional DHS shelters serving homeless New Yorkers. This policy will allow “more efficient management of capacity for migrants in the care of the city.”
This is the latest effort to alleviate the symptoms of the migration crisis, specifically asylum seekers who are allegedly going door to door asking for cash and food.
This latest development comes on the heels of the controversial tents used by the city for shelter at Floyd Bennett Field, which many say are not family-friendly.
“I feel sorry for them,” Flatlands resident Nelson Tung told NBC New York. “It’s really sad the position they’re in, obviously it’s also very difficult in the city at the moment.”
Residents in surrounding neighborhoods said they now see migrants knocking on doors, asking for money, clothing, baby items and food. According to New York City Councilwoman Joann Ariola, this has been happening at night, which is why she has been pushing for an 11 p.m. curfew on all migrant shelters. Ariola said Mayor Eric Adams’ office could agree to the plan.
“I’ve mentioned it many times before, but this was the first time the response was, ‘We’re looking at that.’ So I was very encouraged,” she said.
Currently, migrants can come and go as they please, but rely on buses to take them to and from remote refuge locations.
In the Flatlands, NBC New York heard from more than a dozen people who said immigrant mothers with children have been knocking on their doors quite frequently during the day and they want it to stop. None of them agreed to be interviewed on camera, but they all questioned how a curfew would help with what they call a daytime problem. Meanwhile, curfew advocates point out that other homeless New Yorkers already have it.
“We are not asking immigrants for anything that is not being asked of homeless New Yorkers,” Ariola said.
Although Tung supports immigrants, he is in favor of a curfew if it is a solution that helps everyone.
“I think in terms of safety for immigrants, especially for them, I think it’s probably a good idea,” Tung said.
2024-01-15 17:35:02
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