NYPD Training Center in Gramercy Park Provides Shelter to Asylum Seekers, Draws Criticism from Police Unions

From training uniformed officers to housing immigrants, the NYPD training center in Gramercy Park became a temporary shelter for a hundred grateful asylum seekers like Brian Meléndez early Friday morning.

“They are giving us help, a bed, a bathroom, a shower, food and soon something better. That is what they have told us,” said Meléndez.

Giovanni Garcia, who took a month to get to the United States from Venezuela and arrived in the city 24 hours before our conversation, echoed the gratitude.

“As soon as I arrived they offered me food, juice, water, they asked if I wanted something like a cookie. What I really want is to rest,” Garcia said.

When asked if the conditions at the basketball court where he is going to sleep, he compared them to the immigration detention center where he stayed for weeks.

“A five-star hotel compared to how it is there,” Garcia added.

But neither the city hall nor the police department specified how long the migrants will stay in the nine-story building built in 1964 on West 20th Street in Manhattan.

And the decision has drawn strong criticism from the Police Benevolent Association, whose president called it terrible for everyone and inhumane, noting:

“It is a significant risk to house civilians in active and functioning police facilities, which means that a large contingent of police officers will have to be posted there both for the security of the migrants and for the security of the building,” as said by Pat Lynch, President of the Police Benevolent Association.

Sammy Ravelo graduated from the Police Academy after taking classes at the facility.

“There are enough classrooms and space depending on the number of people. This structure, this building is used to train the police,” Ravelo said. “I would like to know what the police are going to do with the officers who receive training there, but it is unfortunate that we have to detrain the police to house undocumented people.”

The mayor’s office added that with Title 42 expiring next week, New York desperately needs federal and state support to respond to the crisis more than ever.