Since the spring of 2022, more than 150,100 migrants have arrived in New York. Demographers and journalists refer to it as “the surge.” Because of several mandatory sheltering laws to house, feed and provide medical care and education to the indigent and vulnerable, this mass influx has put heavy pressure on New York City’s resources, Mayor Eric Adams and his administration. Many, including Murad Awawdeh (the executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition), have been critical of Adams’s response.
The rise in immigration to New York City is largely due to Venezuela’s economic and political collapse. Since February of this year, more than 7 million Venezuelans have fled the country, and many have arrived in New York City by crossing the southern border. According to the United Nations Commission for Refugees, this is “the second largest external displacement crisis in the world” (Source: NY Times). President Nicolás Maduro’s obduracy has contributed to dangerous living conditions, extreme poverty, malnutrition, the curtailment of public services and the collapse of its currency, forcing millions to flee mainly to Latin America and the Caribbean. Maduro replaced Hugo Chávez, an autocratic communist leader, and has adopted much of his political strategies. The economy has been severely worsened under Maduro, with hyperinflation, starvation and rampant crime rates. The humanitarian crisis within Venezuela is exacerbated by the journey from Venezuela to the United States, which is also incredibly treacherous. A stretch of land known as the Darien Gap in Colombia/Panama, with its frequent flash floods and uneven terrain, is particularly hazardous. More than one-fourth of the 66,300 migrants staying in New York City shelters are of Venezuelan origin.
Although the current crisis is largely due to Venezuelan and Latin American migration, there are also many West African migrants who have recently arrived in the city. These are mainly Senegalese and Gambian populations that had been living as fishermen or factory workers in Latin American countries. They, in a sense, are victims of being displaced and disadvantaged twice. Overlooked by news outlets and city officials, these migrants have been unable to find shelters and have become homeless; some are sleeping in city parks, and others are sharing cramped spaces in the basements of neighborhood mosques.
The immigration crisis in New York City has become a major issue as there are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 asylum seekers arriving every week. Mayor Eric Adams described that over the next three years, this humanitarian crisis will require 12 billion dollars from state and federal funding.
New York City is a ‟sanctuary city”, meaning that it attempts to aid asylum seekers and migrants with legal assistance and shelter instead of cooperating with the federal government to enforce immigration law and deportation regulations. There are currently 122,100 people staying in homeless shelters, most awaiting their immigration proceedings. Yet, despite the city’s sanctuary status, Adams has discouraged migrants from coming to the city, distributing fliers warning against coming to New York to migrants at the southern border. Through these fliers and other briefings, Adams has also asserted that there is no guarantee that migrants will receive shelter or food and health services. Adams even went to the extent of issuing an executive order in May of 2023 suspending rules ensuring that migrants would have bathrooms and kitchens in their shelters. Adams has argued that the city has no resources and that the reallocation of funding from other city government spending is already being exceeded. The Legal Aid Society has condemned these measures and came out with a statement “vigorously opposing” these decisions from Adams and his administration. As of January 9th, 2024, Adrienne Adams and the Legal Aid Society came out with a statement planning to sue Mayor Adams if new laws are not implemented to expand housing aid.
There are numerous unorthodox tactics in the Adams approach. Adams has argued that the problem has to be interdicted and solved beyond New York’s borders. Adams even went to the extent of traveling to several Latin American nations to discourage any further migration to New York. When in Puebla, Mexico, the mayor attempted to recognize the Mexican community’s contributions to New York, but ultimately argued that right now is not the time for anyone to migrate to the city. Adams went even further, asserting that the migrant crisis is detrimental to the heart of the city. In September, Adams stated, “The city we knew – we’re about to lose… this issue will destroy New York City.” These comments gained immediate support from many Republicans including Vivek Ramamswamy, Jenna Ellis, and former president Donald Trump. Adams’s remarks surrounding the crisis have also solicited support from former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Mike Pence, who both have been receptive to Adams’s complaints about the federal government. Adams’s efforts to crack down on migrants entering the city have become a more general argument for heightened border security, which has gained the support of these Republican politicians.
Yet, Adams has been repeatedly called out for promoting xenophobia and revoking the city of its roots in accepting immigrants since the days of Ellis Island. Murad Awawdeh, the executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition has been one of Adams’s main critics. Awawdeh responded to these sentiments, and added, “Using dangerous language sometimes leads to dangerous acts and we don’t want people put in that situation. So it’s important that leaders understand how to communicate [to] not put people’s lives on the line.” In the last two months alone, ethnically based hate crimes have risen by 250%, some linked to rising xenophobia of newly-arrived migrants. Christine Quinn, former City Council speaker, added that these changes by the Adams administration are, “bad policy and bad politics, and New Yorkers will not stand for it.” These comments were made in May of 2023, and Adams’s popularity has decreased substantially since then. According to Politico, only 28% of New Yorkers support Adams.
Some have said that Adams is trying to perform an immigration triage. Adams decided to shorten the shelter stay period for single adult migrants from 60 days to 30 days, and this has had a rippling effect. Awawdeh responded to this, protesting, “The real solution is not continuously doing half measures and short cuts, it’s actually doing the work of getting people out of the shelter system and into permanent housing.” According to NYC Gov, these policy changes were implemented with the supposition that asylum seekers will be “coupled with further intensified casework services.” Yet, this is unfortunately not at all the case. The demand for translators, immigration advocates, attorneys and judges has never been greater, and it can take months to even 3-4 years for migrants to achieve work status. As of November of 2022, there were roughly 180,000 pending cases in immigration courts which are only tried by 88 judges. 21,000 more cases have recently joined this increasingly long line to gain legal status via the asylum process. The process itself has been one of uncertainty, stress and reliving traumatizing experiences. Many translators and interpreters for asylum seekers are forced to extract the difficult portions of their journeys in order to improve their chances of successfully navigating the system.
Another problem that thousands of asylum seekers face is the deadline for asylum applications. With a backlogged court system and a difficult 12-page document in English, many fail to submit their application on time, and many consequently fall victim to being undocumented. Henry Love, vice president at Win, an organization that runs 14 shelters, explained the importance of this issue. “You’re going to have so many people who won’t have the opportunity to apply for asylum simply because of the logistical complications of it… I have a Ph.D., and there’s no way I could do it.”
New York City is not the only place facing an immigration crisis. Similar surges in immigration, largely Middle-Eastern, South-Asian and Albanian refugees, in the U.K. over the past few years resulted in 92,000 unprocessed legacy asylum cases. However, in December 2022, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak outlined his commitment to processing all of the backlogged cases. This past year, 112,000 cases have been processed and, with increased measures to limit the number of migrants, crossings into Britain decreased by 36% in 2023. However, out of the cases processed, only 67% of asylum applications were accepted, and over 35,000 migrants were not granted asylum status. Rishi Sunak’s tough policies on immigration have been supported by his conservative government and backed by many British citizens. According to The Migration Observatory, 52% of British citizens expressed that immigration should be reduced and 32% contended that immigration is entirely destructive for the country.
Although the New York City and U.K. immigration crises are not identical, the decision to dramatically boost case efficiency does not necessarily entail migrants being granted asylum, especially with the conservative approach to the migrant crisis Adams has outlined. With limited space in shelters, and the numbers of migrants unlikely to subside, Adams is put under heavy pressure regarding what measures he will take. Recently, he has begun to sue bus companies for dropping thousands of asylum seekers in the city. Adams has also continuously claimed that the issue is the fault of the federal government and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and has largely failed to assume any responsibility for the way his administration has dealt with the increase of migrants.
Shelter life is worsening weekly, with tuna and crackers being the only available food at many facilities. The current 30-day shelter stay is becoming increasingly problematic, as many who were able to find room at a shelter are now reticketing, and unable to find new shelter for weeks on end. 19-year-old Brian Arriaga, a newly-arrived migrant from Mexico, described how he has been unable to find a shelter, and how the winter weather is adding another layer of difficulty to the already inhumane living conditions. “Why is the government letting us sleep in the streets? With this cold, it’s really ugly.” Yaleiza Goyo, a 55-year-old migrant from Venezuela has also been sleeping on the streets and has resorted to wearing four jackets, two pairs of gloves, and three pants. “You’re killing us,” she said.
