New York, a historical beacon for immigrants and the portal to the United States via Ellis Island, is reportedly at capacity as per the city’s mayor. Nevertheless, hopeful migrants, predominantly from West Africa, continue to descend in droves, seeking to forge a better life.
This week, numerous asylum seekers were seen camping on the pavements near a Manhattan hotel. Their arduous journeys to escape poverty and violence led them here, where they awaited processing at a temporary center. This comes just two weeks after Mayor Eric Adams proclaimed the city to be full due to a surge in migration, pushing the city’s resources to their limits.
“We are at full capacity,” Adams reiterated this past Monday, forecasting no improvement in the situation.
His late July remarks, advising migrants to consider other cities, sparked criticism. Many accused him of undermining the city’s right-to-shelter laws and turning his back on the iconic spirit of New York, embodied by the Statue of Liberty, a historic symbol of welcome for newcomers.
Among those waiting outside the Roosevelt Hotel was Abdoullahi Diallo. The 25-year-old from Mauritania had embarked on a two-week journey, passing through Turkey and Nicaragua, then crossing the Mexican border into the U.S., all in pursuit of “democracy” and “respect.” This endeavor cost him $8,000, he disclosed to AFP.
Others hailing from Senegal claimed they had slept on cardboard sheets in store entrances for five days, awaiting shelter. In response to the dire situation, volunteers distributed food, water, and during a recent heatwave, provided access to air-conditioned minibuses.
Since April of the previous year, New York, obligated by law to provide free housing to anyone in need, has welcomed over 93,000 migrants, mainly from Central and South America.
The significant influx coincides with Republican-led states like Texas transferring migrants to Democrat-led regions to critique President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Nearly 106,000 people, including approximately 54,000 migrants, are currently under the care of New York City, housed in either shelters or hotels, as stated by officials.
In a recent development, Mayor Adams declared last month that flyers would be distributed at the US-Mexico border, notifying migrants that there was “no guarantee” of receiving shelter in New York and suggesting they “please consider” an alternative city.