New York needs $16.4 billion to care for more than 100,000 illegal immigrants by 2025. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Some 850 rooms in New York’s Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan are being used to house hundreds of families who entered the US through its south-western border with Mexico.
The city government’s priorities sounded off-key to two police officers who stopped for coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts in the Grand Central subway station on a rainy morning, as the city hunkered down for a passing hurricane. “311 calls have increased,” she added, referring to the city hotline that residents can call for non-emergencies. “They complain about quality-of-life issues. Rubbish is piling up, the illegals are too noisy, scooters are parked all wrong.The two officers from neighbouring precincts were deployed on their day off outside the iconic Roosevelt Hotel, just across the street from the subway station.
The hotel’s chandeliered lobby and banquet halls have been featured in many Hollywood movies, including Maid In Manhattan and Wall Street. Pakistan International Airlines, which has owned the property since 2000, leased it in May to the city’s administration for a sum of US$220 million for three years.
Though New York has been traditionally welcoming, the sudden influx seems to have touched a nerve, sparking protests across the city, even in areas densely populated by immigrants. “We are past our breaking point. New Yorkers’ compassion might be limitless, but our resources are not,” he said, repeating his plea for aid from the state and federal authorities.As this writer attempted to enter the Roosevelt, a security guard barred the way. He kept a close watch as I spoke to families milling around the hotel. “No filming,” he shouted when I drew out a camera.
Speaking in broken English and with the help of a Spanish translation app on her touchscreen phone, Maria said her family had entered the country through the Texas border after a journey of more than 30 days. She said she was fleeing “a very ugly situation” in Venezuela. “There is nothing there. No jobs, no food, no money,” she said, despairingly.
Standing a few metres away were a couple with three young daughters in colourful hoodies. The man, who gave his name as Jesus, 35, said he had been making “good money” from his grocery store in Caracas. But when the Venezuelan economy cratered, his business became unviable and he decided his family had a better chance in the US. “I had no good choices left,” he said.
New York City’s first airport, Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, could house up to 2,500 male migrants if plans by the authorities go through. ST PHOTO: BHAGYASHREE GAREKAR “No work papers,” they said when asked if they had managed to find jobs. They might not have a roof for too long either, after the mayor served notice that adult migrants without children must vacate shelters in 60 days in accordance with city rules. They might have to move to other shelters or find their way to another city.
“Housing in NYC is very expensive,” the fliers say. “Please consider another city as you make your decision about where to settle in the US.”
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