For days now, a large number of migrants have been forced to sleep on the bare floor of an old bar located at the Roosevelt Hotel shelter in New York City. This has happened as the first wave of asylum seekers were being evicted from various sites across the city due to its stay-limit rule.
On Monday morning, the Vander Bar in Midtown Manhattan was transformed into a temporary shelter for asylum seekers. Sobering photos captured the scene, as the individuals were seen lying side by side in the former bar area of the once-iconic hotel. The images serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis and the desperate situations that many asylum seekers find themselves in.
As I glanced around, I noticed that almost ten more migrants were trying to catch some rest. Some of them were sitting on chairs with their eyes closed, while others were dozing off with their belongings clutched tightly to their chests. It was evident that they were exhausted and desperately in need of some shut-eye.
According to a shelter worker, who preferred not to disclose their identity, the duration of a person’s stay at the shelter can vary depending on their situation. They could potentially be there for hours or even days. This information was shared with The Post on Monday.
According to their explanation, the processing of singles solely relies on their specific circumstances.
As the deadline for eviction notices passed over the weekend, a heart-wrenching scene unfolded in the city. The notice was issued for the first batch of 13,000 single adult migrants who had been taking shelter in one of the city’s designated sites for the past 60 days.
The exact number of migrants who were asked to leave the shelters over the weekend is not yet clear. According to a representative from City Hall, a small number of asylum seekers, estimated to be a few dozen, could have been impacted.
According to the current regulation, solitary adult migrants who have stayed for two months must return to the central intake center located at the Roosevelt Hotel to reapply for a fresh shelter bed.
According to the “Right to Shelter” law in the city, individuals are still entitled to housing.
According to recent reports, the current arrangement for migrants in New York City shelters will only last for 30 days before they will have to reapply again if needed. This comes after Mayor Eric Adams disclosed the city’s decision to cut the previous 60-day stay limit to 30 days. The move is aimed at discouraging migrants from overusing the already overwhelmed system.
The reason behind the presence of asylum seekers sleeping on the floor of the former Roosevelt bar on Monday morning remains unclear. It is uncertain whether these individuals were recently evicted from another shelter or if they are new migrants waiting to be processed for the first time.
Upon arriving in New York City from Venezuela as an asylum seeker, 30-year-old Martin Cordero found himself among the group of individuals who had to spend the night sleeping in the bar area.
To The Post, he candidly expressed, “I am uncertain about what the subsequent course of action should be.”
“When they inquired if I had someone who could fetch me, I found myself at a loss as I am not acquainted with anyone in this area.”
“He added that he was informed that this is only a temporary situation.”
Daniel, a fellow Venezuelan migrant, shared that he also had to sleep on a chair upon his arrival at the hotel mega-shelter on Sunday.
According to the 26-year-old, there were plans to relocate them to a different place, but the uncertainty of their stay still looms over them. They are forced to wait for available space if they can’t reach anyone to come and get them. Unfortunately, there is no clear indication of how long they will have to wait.
As the clock struck mid-morning, a dozen more adult migrants were brought into the already packed area, waiting anxiously for their turn to be processed.
According to Amaris Cockfield, a representative from City Hall, migrants who have endured a tiring and often uncomfortable journey on cramped buses are provided with comfort and given the opportunity to rest safely while waiting for a few hours for placement at the Arrival Center. However, she clarified that there are no overnight stays allowed in the lobby.
Last July, the Roosevelt Hotel makeshift processing center for migrants became overcrowded, leaving many of them with no option but to sleep on cardboard boxes outside the hotel. The situation was alarming and raised concerns about the living conditions and welfare of the migrants. The incident highlights the need for better planning and resources to support migrants in their search for a better life.
As of now, approximately 60,000 asylum seekers are under the care of the city. These individuals are situated in over 200 shelter sites across all five boroughs.
In New York City, the “Right to Shelter” mandate ensures that migrants and anyone who is in need of a bed will be provided with one in the city’s shelter system. This mandate has been in place for decades and guarantees a safe and comfortable place for those who require shelter.
The Adams administration is currently contesting the “Right to Shelter” regulation in the state Supreme Court. They believe that they need to start denying shelter to some individuals due to the city’s limited resources, which have already been exhausted since the arrival of over 113,000 asylum seekers in the spring of 2022.
On Monday morning, a hotel shelter welcomed around 40 migrants with children who arrived in a separate bus from Texas.
Upon arrival, the migrant families were promptly taken to the shelter for processing, as witnessed by The Post.
On Saturday, the mayor of El Paso, Texas, expressed that his city has been pushed to its limits as it deals with 2,000 migrants arriving every day. He stated that his administration took action by arranging five buses to transport some of the migrants to New York City, Chicago, and Denver. The situation has become so challenging that the mayor referred to it as a “breaking point.”
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