Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is concerned that President-elect Donald J. Trump may target a Brooklyn tent complex housing 2,000 asylum seekers on federal land.
New York City officials are currently in the process of devising a plan to close down a large migrant shelter located in Brooklyn due to fears that it may attract the attention of the Trump administration. The shelter, which houses around 2,000 asylum seekers in a tent complex situated on a former airplane runway at Floyd Bennett Field in Jamaica Bay, is built on land that the federal government leases to the city. This has raised concerns within the administration of Mayor Eric Adams about the potential consequences of the shelter operating under the new administration.
The city is worried that the incoming President, Donald J. Trump, could terminate the lease or send immigration officers to the shelter to detain noncitizens. To address these concerns, city officials are working to identify alternative locations where the 500 families currently residing in the shelter could be relocated before Mr. Trump assumes office. The move to potentially close the shelter is part of the city’s preparations for a potential increase in immigration enforcement under a second Trump presidency.
In addition to the closure of the shelter, City Hall is also taking steps to protect essential federal funding for housing, healthcare, and education, as there are apprehensions that the new administration may reduce financial support for cities. Mayor Adams, a conservative Democrat, had entered into the lease agreement for Floyd Bennett Field with the Biden administration to accommodate the rising number of migrants arriving at the southern border.
The decision to close the migrant shelter at Floyd Bennett Field reflects the city’s proactive approach in anticipating and addressing potential challenges related to immigration policies under the new administration. By taking these measures, New York City aims to safeguard the well-being of asylum seekers and ensure the continued provision of essential services to its residents.
Source: The NY Times
