Emergency Management Department relocates migrants illegally housed inside Fordham store

Authorities say the group of migrants were living inside a store that was once a juice bar at 305 East Kingsbridge Road.

News 12 Staff

Feb 29, 2024, 11:58 AM

Updated 148 days ago

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New York City’s Emergency Management Department recently relocated migrants who were living at an illegal setup inside a store in Fordham.
Authorities say the group of migrants were living inside a store that was once a juice bar at 305 East Kingsbridge Road.
They were moved to a city-operated waiting room and overflow site, according to authorities. However, the location of that site has not been disclosed.
This comes after the Department of Buildings discovered potentially dangerous living conditions at the store and issued a vacate order on Wednesday.
News 12 is told the space has been illegally converted into sleeping quarters, with 34 beds on the first floor and 11 beds packed into a cellar. There were also multiple fire hazards including extension cords, e-bikes, space heaters, and hotplates throughout the building.
A former resident at the scene told News 12 that they were paying $300 a month to live there, get a bed and receive three meals a day. Prior to that, he said many tenants were sleeping on trains and on the streets.
Mayor Eric Adams also addressed the issue, as this is the second time this week migrants were found living in illegal setups across the city.
“We must respond as an agency and let them know that if you are in that setting, there's care, there are ways of placing you in proper setting. And that's what we have been doing,” he said.
In addition to vacating the building, the Department of Buildings also issued two violations to the landlord.


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