NYC to shutter violent immigrant shelter — and house immigrants with tourists in hotels instead



New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) announced Wednesday that the city plans to shut down the sprawling Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center located on Randall’s Island, which, at its peak, was able to house 3,000 immigrants.

The tent shelter, which is slated to close down at the end of February, and the surrounding area have become a hotbed for violence since it opened last August.

'Large scale commercial hotels and hotel management services to help address the current emergency.'

Adams noted that the city has already reduced its capacity by dismantling the largest residential tent structure, which was used to hold 750 cots. One of the athletic fields, a site previously utilized as shelter space, will be returned to community use after it undergoes restorations.

“Over the coming months, the city will continue to gradually reduce the population on-site. Following the site’s closure in February, the city will invest in restoring the remaining impacted athletic fields and parkland,” the city reported.

Adams noted that New York City, which has seen a massive increase in illegal alien arrivals under the Biden-Harris administration, is “not out of the woods yet.”

He credits his office’s “smart management strategies and successful advocacy” for helping the city “turn[] the corner on the crisis.” Specifically, Adams noted that his 30-day shelter limits for individuals and 60-day limits for families have helped reduce capacity.

“We’re not scrambling every day to open new shelters — we’re talking about closing them. We’re not talking about how much we’re spending — we’re talking about how much we’ve saved,” Adams stated. “And thanks to today’s announcement, in a few months, we’ll be talking about how much we’re investing in restoring Randall’s Island’s incredible fields and parks for community use. I want to thank the Randall’s Island Park Alliance and every New Yorker who has partnered with us to manage this unprecedented influx of asylum seekers and make sure that our newest arrivals have the same opportunity that we all have to pursue the American Dream.”

According to Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, nearly a quarter million immigrants were funneled through the city’s shelter system since Spring 2022.

“Roughly seven in 10 of those seeking asylum have moved on to the next part of their journey, and today’s announcement is another step on our path through our humanitarian response. With 14 straight weeks of lower numbers of new arrivals seeking asylum, we are now able to transition from this large humanitarian relief center, which is a step in the right direction,” Williams-Isom said.

However, a New York Post report also released on Wednesday revealed that the city’s Department of Homeless Services is seeking a massive 14,000-room hotel contract with properties around the city.

The news outlet noted that roughly 150 New York City hotels are already providing rooms to immigrants. The cost of those accommodations combined with spending on immigrant services over a three-year period is estimated to reach $5.76 billion for local taxpayers.

The city’s current three contracts with the New York City Hotel Association cost taxpayers $352 per night per room.

The Department of Homeless Services wrote in its solicitation for proposals that it “is seeking to continue the City Sanctuary Facility program by procuring a vendor who can assist in acquiring the use of large scale commercial hotels and hotel management services to help address the current emergency.”

Hotel Association President Vijay Dandapani told the Post, “We will be filling in the RFP [request for proposal].”

He stated that the association’s foundation receives roughly $100,000 monthly to fulfill the existing three contracts with the city.

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Migrant mob attacks man at NYC shelter, injures security guard



A mob of illegal migrants attacked another migrant at a controversial Manhattan shelter early Monday morning, according to several media reports.

A group of five men residing at the Randall's Island migrant shelter were charged with third-degree assault and harassment after they were accused of violently attacking another male migrant while he was eating on his bed around 1:45 a.m. According to police, the victim, whose name has not been released, was 24 years old.

Authorities stated that the victim was surrounded by the men, who then proceeded to punch and scratch him "all over his head and face" and on his legs, Fox News Digital reported.

The men accused of perpetrating the assault were identified as Howard Ochoa Olivero, 27, Jose Manuel Maza, 29, Jose Squera, 20, Xavier Pacheco, 32, and Carlos Maiz Betancourt, 23.

Police reported that a Randall's Island migrant shelter security guard sustained injuries while attempting to break up the melee.

A video captured outside the migrant shelter after the altercation showed a heavy police presence and suspects being escorted out in handcuffs. At least two individuals were placed in ambulances, Fox News Digital reported.

A law enforcement source told the news outlet that brawls are "becoming common practice" at the migrant shelter.

Last month, the city imposed a curfew at the Randall's Island shelter, which took effect on March 20.

A spokesperson for the city stated, "New York City continues to lead the nation in managing this national humanitarian crisis, and that includes prioritizing the health and safety of both asylum seekers in our care and New Yorkers who live in the communities surrounding the emergency shelters we manage."

The City Hall representative noted that the curfew was similar to those placed on other homeless shelters.

"This policy will allow for more efficient capacity management for migrants in the city's care," the spokesperson added.

New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams announced curfews for several migrant shelters in January after residents complained about door-to-door begging at all hours of the day and night.

A video posted on social media last month showed migrants at Randall's Island shelter becoming unruly and throwing objects at New York Police Department officers after authorities attempted to arrest one of the migrants. According to the New York Post, the detained individual was not supposed to be at the facility and had refused requests to leave.

The footage showed a disorderly mob of male migrants hurling backpacks and bottles at police officers. One female officer appeared to get struck in the head by a backpack.

Earlier this year, a 24-year-old migrant was fatally stabbed at the shelter during an altercation involving four other illegal migrants. Three men were subsequently charged with first-degree manslaughter and gang assault in connection with the murder.

Migrants residing at Randall's Island, which was converted into a massive tent city in August, told the New York Post that the asylum-seekers living at the shelter have split into "camps" based on ethnicity.

"Everyone has a knife," one migrant told the Post.

"There is a lot of stealing," a second migrant stated. "If you put your phone down or your charger for a moment, they take it immediately. Any of your stuff that you don't have they will take. … There is definitely camps."

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NYC migrant facility offers big-screen TVs, video game systems, Wi-Fi, popcorn machines, foosball, laundry service, 24-hour snacks, 'culturally appropriate' cuisine: 'A place people can come, rest, relax, and kick their feet up'



New York City officials unveiled the welcoming living conditions at the new migrant facility designated for single adult males. The amenities at the illegal immigrant camp include big-screen TVs, Xbox gaming systems, laundry service, 24-hour snacks, and "culturally appropriate" cuisine.

To deal with the busing of migrants, New York City has opened a migrant tent city on Randall's Island. The tent city can accommodate 500 migrants, but can be expanded to have 1,000 beds.

The facility is intended to house migrants temporarily – between 24 to 96 hours. However, there is no limit as to how long the men can stay at the center.

“Our focus is to get you where you want to go and not put a numerical limit in terms of number of hours to restrict anything,” said Dr. Ted Long, a senior vice president at NYC Health + Hospitals.

\u201cWATCH: After declaring a state of emergency, NYC unveils shelter for 'single adult men' illegal migrants with couches, TVs, Xboxes & 24/7 food & drink\n\n"The meals are all culturally appropriate\u2014it is South American fare," Emergency Mgmt Commissioner Zach Iscol said. \n\n\ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f: @fox5ny\u201d
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) 1666240757

The migrant city boasts a long list of amenities for the tenants.

There are couches and coffee tables situated in front of big-screen TVs with cable and the latest Xbox video game console. The New York Post reported that there is a recreation room with two popcorn machines, ping-pong tables, foosball tables, and board games.

Illegal immigrants also have access to free Wi-Fi, a bank of 12 phones that can be used to make international calls, and laundry service.

There are coffee and tea stations available around the clock, as well as 24-hour snacks.

The facility provides 60 dining tables. Meals will be cooked on-site in the fully equipped commercial kitchen.

"Those meals are all culturally appropriate. It is South American fare," said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol during a press conference. "The menu rotates on a regular basis."

Iscol added, "This is a place people can come, rest, relax, and kick their feet up after the journey they have been on."

The migrant facility will have 24/7 security and a 10 p.m. curfew for tenants.

Originally, the migrant facility was to be built in the Orchard Beach parking lot in the Bronx. Despite construction of the tent city in the Bronx being nearly completed, New York City officials decided to scrap the idea after heavy rains flooded the area. The migrant facility was relocated to the parking lot of Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.

Iscol admitted that the relocation was a pricey mistake.

"It cost about $325,000 to demobilize from Orchard Beach and another $325,000 to set up this facility," Iscol said on Tuesday.

However, Iscol did not reveal the total cost of the illegal immigrant facility for single men.

"The rest of the costs we’re still analyzing — we don’t know how many people we will be caring for and a lot of the costs are variable, so many of those ongoing costs we’re now figuring out," he said.

The New York Post reported last month that the Bronx tent city would cost the city $15 million per month to operate.

In addition to the tent city, the New York City government is housing 200 families at the Row Hotel – a 4-star hotel in midtown Manhattan.

According to online travel booking websites, nightly rates at Manhattan's Row Hotel start at $116 and go all the way up to $539 per night.

Since the spring, more than 18,000 migrants have been bused into New York City from southern border states. Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency because of the influx of illegal immigrants.

New York Erects Tent City To House Migrants www.youtube.com