What you should know
- New York City is considering a possible curfew for immigrants currently in the city’s shelters.
- It is the latest attempt to address the symptoms of the migrant crisis, particularly asylum seekers who are reportedly going door-to-door begging for cash and food.
- Residents of the surrounding neighborhood said they now see migrants knocking on doors, asking for money, clothes, baby items and food.
NEW YORK – New York City is considering a possible curfew for immigrants currently housed in city shelters.
It is the latest attempt to address the symptoms of the migrant crisis, particularly asylum seekers who are reportedly going door-to-door begging for cash and food.
This latest development comes on the heels of controversial tents used by the city for shelters at Floyd Bennett Field, which many say are not family-friendly.
“I feel sorry for them,” said Flatlands resident Nelson Tung. “It’s really sad the position they’re in, obviously it’s very difficult in the city at the moment.”
Residents in the surrounding neighborhood said they now see migrants knocking on doors, asking for money, clothes, baby items and food. According to New York City Councilwoman Joanne Arriola, this is happening at night, which is why she’s pushing for an 11 p.m. curfew on all migrant shelters. Arriola said Mayor Eric Adams’ office could agree to the plan.
“I’ve mentioned it many times before, but this was the first time the response was, ‘We’re looking at it.’ So I was very encouraged,” she said.
Currently, migrants can come and go as they please, but rely on buses to take them to remote shelters.
In the Flatlands, NBC New York heard from more than a dozen people who said immigrant mothers with children repeatedly knock on their doors during the day and they want it to stop. None of them agreed to be interviewed on camera, but they all questioned how the curfew would help what they called the problem of the day. Meanwhile, curfew advocates point out that other homeless New Yorkers already have one.
“We don’t ask immigrants for anything that homeless New Yorkers aren’t asked,” Arriola said.
Although Tung supports immigrants, he favors a curfew if it’s a solution that helps everyone.
“I think in terms of safety for immigrants, especially for them, I think it’s probably a good idea,” Tung said.
Adams administration spokeswoman Kayla Memelak told NBC New York exclusively that the City Council is considering all options and that no decision has yet been made on the curfew.
