NEW YORK CITY, NY - Illegal immigrants continue to flood into New York City and as a result there are not enough beds in the city's identified "drop-in" centers, and now according to reports, the mayor's office is encouraging illegal immigrants to sleep in chairs rather than on the floors.
These "drop-in" centers, often with a few services and amenities, are where those awaiting a new bed or who need a temporary place to stay can spend the night. Although it has been commonplace for illegal immigrants to make their way to New York City, the tens of thousands that have come and entered the shelter system over the last two years are making it difficult to follow the decades-old rules about the right to shelter.
On April 8th, New York City began transitioning to new shelter rules for the recently arrived illegal immigrants, which was required as part of a legal settlement after months of negotiations between the city and homeless advocates over the city's right to shelter. For decades, that right obligated the city to provide a bed to anyone who needs one, at least temporarily.
However, the Adams' administration argued that the rule was never meant to apply to the "extraordinary circumstances" that the city now faces. According to the new settlement terms, newly arrived illegal immigrants without children reapplying for a bed after initial 30-or-60 day stays may only qualify for an extension under "extenuating circumstances."
A few examples would be an upcoming medical procedure, an immigration hearing, or making significant efforts to move out of the shelter. The city is still working to set up a system that can actually make those assessments.
Under the new settlement terms, those waiting to secure another shelter stay can now spend the night in one of three overnight "drop-in" or "hospitality" centers. The right to shelter settlement agreement requires the city's emergency shelters to meet certain minimum stands like adequate staffing ratios, access to showers and beds. However, the so called "drop-in" centers do not have the same requirements.
The "drop-in" centers, instead, operate like other Department of Homeless Services drop-in centers where people can come indoors for the night and sleep in a chair, but since it is a temporary space and not actually considered a shelter, there are no actual beds.
Prior to the March court decision, illegal immigrants who reapplied often waiting days or weeks for another placement and would spend their nights at one of five "waiting rooms" that were in operation at the time. The city was using these locations as de-facto shelters, which according to the settlement, was one of the conditions the agreement sought to end.
Since the passing of the settlement, the current wait time for a new placement in the system is much shorter, which according to City Hall, is about 24-hours. Under the new settlement terms, some "drop-in" centers will remain in operation, intended to serve those who reject other offers of shelter, arrive late at night, or request a temporary space to stay indoors.
The transition has caused some confusion about the new rules. One "drop-in" center in Brooklyn sent illegal immigrants who reapplied for a bed to an "overnight hospitality center" at the Historic First Church of God in Crown Heights. For two days, April 8th and 9th, illegal immigrants slept on the floor in the church, but the rules reportedly changed on April 11th.
A staffer at that shelter allegedly told the illegal immigrants that they could not "sleep before 2:30 a.m." In Spanish, the worker supposedly said, "Just for the moment, the rules are changing, unfortunately, that's what we were told today. We don't know if it will be the same tomorrow. Today the government said that you cannot sleep before 2:30 a.m."
According to reports, the mayor's office could not explain why staff told the illegal immigrants that they could not sleep before 2:30 a.m. However, someone from the office did say that they encourage people to stay in a chair and not lie on the floor. The reason for this, according to City Hall, is to avoid a fire hazard posed by people sprawled out on the ground.
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak said in a statement, "The health and safety of all migrants in our care is always a top priority. That is why those who choose to utilize our drop-in hospitality centers are asked to not sleep on the floor to avoid any risk of a fire hazard." The mayor's office said that this is not a "hard and fast rule" and that no one would be kicked out if they do try and sleep on the floor.
These "drop-in" centers, often with a few services and amenities, are where those awaiting a new bed or who need a temporary place to stay can spend the night. Although it has been commonplace for illegal immigrants to make their way to New York City, the tens of thousands that have come and entered the shelter system over the last two years are making it difficult to follow the decades-old rules about the right to shelter.
On April 8th, New York City began transitioning to new shelter rules for the recently arrived illegal immigrants, which was required as part of a legal settlement after months of negotiations between the city and homeless advocates over the city's right to shelter. For decades, that right obligated the city to provide a bed to anyone who needs one, at least temporarily.
However, the Adams' administration argued that the rule was never meant to apply to the "extraordinary circumstances" that the city now faces. According to the new settlement terms, newly arrived illegal immigrants without children reapplying for a bed after initial 30-or-60 day stays may only qualify for an extension under "extenuating circumstances."
A few examples would be an upcoming medical procedure, an immigration hearing, or making significant efforts to move out of the shelter. The city is still working to set up a system that can actually make those assessments.
Under the new settlement terms, those waiting to secure another shelter stay can now spend the night in one of three overnight "drop-in" or "hospitality" centers. The right to shelter settlement agreement requires the city's emergency shelters to meet certain minimum stands like adequate staffing ratios, access to showers and beds. However, the so called "drop-in" centers do not have the same requirements.
The "drop-in" centers, instead, operate like other Department of Homeless Services drop-in centers where people can come indoors for the night and sleep in a chair, but since it is a temporary space and not actually considered a shelter, there are no actual beds.
Prior to the March court decision, illegal immigrants who reapplied often waiting days or weeks for another placement and would spend their nights at one of five "waiting rooms" that were in operation at the time. The city was using these locations as de-facto shelters, which according to the settlement, was one of the conditions the agreement sought to end.
Since the passing of the settlement, the current wait time for a new placement in the system is much shorter, which according to City Hall, is about 24-hours. Under the new settlement terms, some "drop-in" centers will remain in operation, intended to serve those who reject other offers of shelter, arrive late at night, or request a temporary space to stay indoors.
The transition has caused some confusion about the new rules. One "drop-in" center in Brooklyn sent illegal immigrants who reapplied for a bed to an "overnight hospitality center" at the Historic First Church of God in Crown Heights. For two days, April 8th and 9th, illegal immigrants slept on the floor in the church, but the rules reportedly changed on April 11th.
A staffer at that shelter allegedly told the illegal immigrants that they could not "sleep before 2:30 a.m." In Spanish, the worker supposedly said, "Just for the moment, the rules are changing, unfortunately, that's what we were told today. We don't know if it will be the same tomorrow. Today the government said that you cannot sleep before 2:30 a.m."
According to reports, the mayor's office could not explain why staff told the illegal immigrants that they could not sleep before 2:30 a.m. However, someone from the office did say that they encourage people to stay in a chair and not lie on the floor. The reason for this, according to City Hall, is to avoid a fire hazard posed by people sprawled out on the ground.
City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak said in a statement, "The health and safety of all migrants in our care is always a top priority. That is why those who choose to utilize our drop-in hospitality centers are asked to not sleep on the floor to avoid any risk of a fire hazard." The mayor's office said that this is not a "hard and fast rule" and that no one would be kicked out if they do try and sleep on the floor.
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Comments
2024-05-02T10:27-0400 | Comment by: Laurence
If the government would do its duty and patrol the borders, those criminal illegals would never be here in the first place.