City Council members address concerns over current migrant situation
Recently migrants were sleeping outside of the Roosevelt Hotel seeking shelter. The city is now giving asylum seekers notice that they need to find a new place to stay following 60 days.
More Stories
City Council members are seeking answers regarding how long adult asylum seekers can stay at local shelters.
On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams said 100,000 migrants will likely be in shelters by the end of the year.
However, recently migrants were sleeping outside of the Roosevelt Hotel seeking shelter. The city is now giving asylum seekers notice that they need to find a new place to stay following 60 days.
"I understand the necessity to be flexible, but the general opaqueness of policies being announced versus whether policies are being implemented without public disclosure or disclosure to the council has been a concern of mine," says Brooklyn Councilmember Shahana Hanif.
New York City Health and Hospitals have already issued more than 900 notices to those staying at humanitarian sites.
Once the 60 days are up, migrants will have a chance to return to the intake center to get new place at city sites.
"I think given 60 days, they will find another place, they will be able to get out under their own feet," says NYC Officer of Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol. "They just need that period of time to sort of get some sense of stability so they can figure out what that next step will be."
Some notices suggest that migrants are seeking placement outside of New York City and that the city will give assistance for travel to other places.
Administration officials say asylum seekers are also connected with case workers to find a place to stay.
NYC Health and Hospitals says 65% of people they've spoken to say they are ready to make an exit plan but need something to help them.
Administration officials were asked if there is a plan for people sleeping on the streets following the 60 days. Many of them said that they would monitor the issue.
