Migrant center Archives

Adams’ planned Bronx migrant shelter angers residents, lawmaker

January 16, 2025

Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to house some 2,200 single migrant men at a shelter in the Bronx is drawing criticism from residents as well as Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y. Torres condemned the decision to place the shelter in a reportedly crime and drug-ridden area of the Bronx dubbed “The Hub.”

Torres told Fox News Digital on Wednesday, Jan. 15, “Instead of decisively dismantling open-air drug markets in ‘The Hub,’ the city is treating the South Bronx as a dumping ground for an endless stream of shelters.” Torres added, “We are treated as the second-class borough of New York City.”

Residents also told the New York Post that they are concerned with the city’s migrant shelter plan.

“We here, we can’t even get funding for ourselves for housing, for jobs, and for everything else, but they’re going to get put into this one shelter,” Bronx resident, Serene Bilal, told the Post. “Are they going to get all these fundings that we’re not getting? Are these housings that we’re not getting? All these new affordable houses, I think, built out there in the Bronx. Are they for us or for them?”

Adams’ office responded to Torres’ criticism, noting that despite the new shelter opening, the city plans to close 46 migrant shelters across New York City.

A spokesperson for Adams said the South Bronx shelter is temporary, but could not specify the length of time it would be used for migrant housing. She said that will be dependent on the next migrant census taken by the city.

The move comes as the number of migrants traveling to New York City is reportedly decreasing, and the number of asylum-seekers being housed in the Big Apple is at its lowest level in 18 months.

Adams said the shuttering of migrant shelters is meant to “save taxpayer money” and “turn the page on this unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”

However, many in the Bronx are wondering why the city chose the impoverished neighborhood as a location for the new shelter. Mayor Adams’ office contends it is looking at migrant housing through a “holistic lens,” not by individual community.

Costs to renovate the former office building where the shelter will be located may reportedly reach up to $340,000.

Huntington Beach sues California over law limiting police work with ICE

January 10, 2025

The city of Huntington Beach is once again challenging a California sanctuary law, nearly seven years after its first attempt. The city is suing the state in a lawsuit filed on Tuesday, Jan. 7, arguing the California Values Act or SB-54, which limits local authorities’ ability to work with federal immigration officials, is unconstitutional.

The lawsuit argues the law violates the supremacy and naturalization clauses of the U.S. Constitution and breaks federal law by advising local law enforcement not to cooperate with U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The lawsuit also cites a press release from state Attorney General Rob Bonta on Dec. 17, 2024, that reminds “California immigrants of their rights and protections under the law.”

In the release, Bonta notes, “State and local law enforcement cannot assist ICE with immigration enforcement, with very limited exceptions.”

Bonta added that ICE cannot detain migrants unless it is “part of a joint task force” whose “primary purpose is not immigration enforcement.”

Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns said SB-54 hurts local police officers’ “ability to fully enforce the law and keep our community safe.”

The California Values Act was signed into law in 2017 and was seen by some as “an act of resistance” by state Democrats against Trump’s first-term immigration policies.

The first Trump administration tried to have the law thrown out but the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the attempt in 2019.

The city of Huntington Beach also unsuccessfully attempted to have the law derailed in 2018.

Bonta defended the law then, promising to protect the rights of immigrants and uphold the law.

The California Attorney General’s Office has yet to respond to the latest lawsuit at the time that this report was published.

Mexico developing app allowing citizens to send alert if detained in US

December 27, 2024

Mexico said that it is creating a cellphone app that its citizens can use to alert their families and local consulate if they have been detained by U.S. immigration authorities. The move announced on Friday, Dec. 27, is in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to start mass deportations after he is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025.

Mexican officials said the app is undergoing small-scale testing and is “working very well.”

The app would reportedly allow users to press a tab that sends a notification to pre-selected relatives and the nearest Mexican consulate.

Mexican officials said the app should be ready sometime in January 2025.

U.S. law enforcement is already required to give notice to a migrant’s country of origin when a person is detained.

The Mexican government also noted that it has a 24-hour call center to answer questions migrants may have. The country has also reportedly added consular staff in preparation for deportations and to help migrants with the legal process.

Some have reportedly compared the app to a panic button for migrants.

The app could also potentially serve as a replacement for the CBP One app, which Trump has promised to end.

The CBP One app, developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), allows migrants to schedule an appointment with U.S. immigration officials for potential asylum.

The CBP One app was rolled out by the Biden administration in January 2023 to “reduce wait time and crowds at U.S. ports of entry.”

However in September 2024, Trump vowed to end the app, claiming it was being used to smuggle migrants into the United States.

Nearly 60,000 migrants with criminal backgrounds roaming NYC: Report

December 2, 2024

New York City officials expressed frustration on Sunday, Dec. 1, over a fresh report published on Sunday, Nov. 30, by the New York Post that revealed new numbers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The Post reported that nearly 60,000 undocumented immigrants with criminal records or pending criminal charges are out and about in New York City, and around 670,00 are on the streets throughout the nation.

The federal data shows more than 1,000 migrants with criminal histories in New York City are reportedly “suspected or known gang members.”

Republicans pointed blame at federal and local Democratic leaders as more than 223,000 migrants have entered the Big Apple since 2022. The GOP claimed that taxpayer-funded housing, food and health care programs have lured not only migrants but foreign criminals as well. Some lawmakers are demanding action.

Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, N.Y., told the Post that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, “must immediately end” the state of New York’s sanctuary status and work with ICE to round up undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

Hochul responded by vowing to continue to protect “law-abiding immigrants while ensuring violent criminals are held accountable.”

Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams repeatedly pushed for sanctuary rules to be eased so that “suspected” criminal migrants can be arrested by federal authorities. However, Adams argued that his hands are tied because of a Bill de Blasio-era law that reportedly bars local law enforcement from working with federal immigration investigations.

Los Angeles passes new sanctuary city ordinance before Trump takes office

November 20, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump says he plans to carry out mass deportations of migrants when he returns to the White House. In response, sanctuary cities are gearing up for a battle against Trump’s plan and preparing to protect undocumented immigrants living in their cities.

The Los Angeles City Council passed a new ordinance Tuesday, Nov. 19. The ordinance solidifies its sanctuary city stance.

City lawmakers passed the legislation unanimously. It prohibits the use of city resources and police officers for immigration enforcement. It also bars city departments from sharing information on undocumented individuals with federal authorities.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is expected to sign the legislation. She and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto proposed fast-tracking protections for undocumented immigrants living in southern California.

“This moment demands urgency,” Bass said in a statement. “Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better.”

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration. He appointed former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan to be his “border czar.”

Homan has said the administration will double the number of agents to get the job done even if a sanctuary city refuses to cooperate with the Trump agenda.

“I’ve seen some of these Democratic governors who say they’re going to stand in the way, they’re gonna make it hard for us,” Homan said in an appearance on Fox News. “Well a suggestion. If you’re not going to help us, get the hell out of the way because we’re gonna do it.”

On Monday, Nov. 18, Trump said he’s preparing to declare a national emergency when he’s sworn in. That would allow him to use military assets to carry out his mass deportation plan.

Why migrant families will no longer be getting prepaid debit cards in NYC

November 8, 2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced an end to a program providing prepaid debit cards to migrant families on Thursday, Nov. 7. The Democratic mayor called the program a success, citing reduced food waste and millions of dollars put into the local economy.

Adams said the reason to end the program was because it was an emergency contract that was only in place for a year, and the migrant population has dropped.

The city began giving out 3,000 debit cards to roughly 900 migrant families in March of 2024. The cards worth up to $350 per week were designed to be used only for essential items like food and baby supplies.

Straight Arrow News previously reported on the expansion of the program in July to 7,300 migrants.

Critics argued the city-funded cards were unfair to low-income New Yorkers who did not receive similar benefits. Additionally, some Republicans expressed concerns that the debit cards would attract more undocumented immigrants to the city.

With the expansion of the pilot program, the cost was estimated to soar as high as $53 million.

New York City has seen an influx of more than 200,000 migrants since 2022 and has been providing shelter and resources for many of them.

Migrants ordered to leave hotel housing in upstate New York

October 25, 2024

Migrants are being told they need to pack up and leave their temporary housing in upstate New York. Officials in Albany have stated they have until the end of 2024 to leave.

The city issued a letter to migrants staying in hotels, indicating that asylum services will no longer be available after December 31. An exit planning team will be on site to assist migrants in planning their next steps.

The letter also states that the city will provide transportation to “a permanent destination” if asylum seekers wish to take that route.

Albany’s contract with health care service provider DocGo is expiring at the end of the year. A spokesperson for the company told the Times Union that migrants will have the option to relocate to New York City to stay in shelters there, which have a 30- or 60-day cap.

Meanwhile, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple expressed concern for the future, citing the presence of members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in the state’s capital.

“I know there’s a lot of Venezuelan migrants here,” Sheriff Apple said. “You can see that right up the street, actually, but if anybody thinks that Tren de Aragua is not here, is being misled. There’s no doubt they’re here.”

The Venezuelan gang has members tied to crimes in New York and multiple other states, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Straight Arrow News reported that young members of Tren de Aragua staying at New York City-funded migrant shelters are committing armed robberies in popular tourist spots like Times Square.

NYC to close its largest migrant shelter, now seeking hotels for housing

October 10, 2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday, Oct. 9, that the migrant shelter on Randall’s Island will close by the end of February 2025. “The number of asylum seekers in city shelters has decreased for 14 straight weeks and is now at its lowest point in over a year,” the mayor’s website states.

This comes as New York City is seeking a contract for 14,000 additional hotel rooms to house migrants through next year, according to the New York Post.

With the arrival of more than 200,000 migrants to the Big Apple since the spring of 2022, the city is already leasing more than 15,000 rooms in over 150 hotels across the city.

The city projects that combining the last two years and this fiscal year, it has already spent $2.3 billion on just housing for migrants, with much of that going to hotels, the New York Post reported.

Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute think tank, told the New York Post that the burden should not be on taxpayers to foot the migrant bill. Instead, she said, Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., should step in and take control of the crisis.

“We should stop using hotels as shelters by the end of the year,” she said, “and should serve the tourism industry, instead.”

The Comptroller’s Office of New York City projects that overall costs for asylum-seekers will be close to $3.42 billion for fiscal year 2025. The Washington Examiner reported in August that New York City has spent more than $5 billion on the migrant crisis.

City workers started dismantling the Randall’s Island shelter, which once had 3,000 beds, on Wednesday night.

The mayor’s office says the site will return to being a public park by March.

Police chief alleges Springfield PD shielding migrants from law enforcement

October 3, 2024

Tremont City Police Chief Chad Duncan has raised concerns about rising public safety issues in the city of Springfield, Ohio, following an influx of Haitian migrants. Duncan claims the Springfield Police Department is neglecting to enforce traffic violations involving unlicensed Haitian drivers, contributing to a spike in accidents.

According to Duncan, some of these drivers are not being cited after accidents, leading to increased insurance rates and, in some cases, fatalities.

The mayor of Springfield, Ohio, is assuming emergency powers in the wake of more than 30 bomb threats. — Getty Images

“People are losing their lives… it’s a big impact,” Duncan said in an interview.

He recounted pulling over the same Haitian driver twice for speeding, claiming that Springfield police would not have taken action.

Duncan suspects the leniency may be aimed at avoiding deportations, as under U.S. law, two misdemeanor offenses can trigger deportation proceedings.

He also accused the Springfield PD of cutting off radio communications with nearby law enforcement, leaving neighboring departments unaware of potential threats.

Despite Duncan’s criticisms, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced a $2.5 million expansion in public safety, including increased state trooper hires to address rising traffic violations in the region.

Majority of Americans support mass deportation of immigrants: Poll

September 19, 2024

A new poll conducted by Scripps News/Ipsos reveals that 54% of Americans support the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. The survey shows that respondents “strongly” or “somewhat” favor efforts to deport millions of immigrants.

The results highlight a stark divide along party lines. Among Republicans, 86% support mass deportation, followed by 58% of independents and 25% of Democrats. Additionally, 39% of respondents say immigration is the most important issue for them in the upcoming election, though inflation remains the top concern.

CBP announced the most illegal border crossings since 2000.

When asked about leadership on immigration, 44% of respondents believe former President Donald Trump would handle the issue better, compared to 34% who favor Vice President Kamala Harris.

While Vice President Harris’ campaign is promoting new ads promising to hire thousands of new border agents, the survey suggests she may need to take additional steps to sway voters on this issue.