An illegal immigrant in New York City admitted the city has “spoiled” migrants with extensive benefits, as officials have tried to grapple with the strain of accommodating tens of thousands of arrivals.
In a recent New York Times report, it was revealed that roughly 55,000 migrants are currently being sheltered across New York City, with accommodations ranging from hotels and renovated office spaces to tents at Floyd Bennett Field.
One migrant, Ingrid Henao, a Colombian mother staying at the Watson Hotel, expressed guilt over the burden placed on taxpayers.
“We’re getting spoiled,” said Henao. “This was never my idea. I didn’t leave my country under the conditions we fled for this.”
Since 2022, over 225,000 migrants have arrived in New York City, costing the city more than $6 billion in housing and services, the New York Times reported. However, despite these provisions, many migrants have recently opted to leave the shelters, citing concerns over looming policy changes. Both President-elect Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have signaled a tougher stance on illegal immigration.
“People are desperate to get out,” explained Nicolaza Crillo to the New York Times.
President-elect Trump’s soon-to-be border czar, Tom Homan, recently revealed in a Fox News interview that Mayor Adams has shown a willingness to collaborate on deporting illegal immigrants.
“He really cares about public safety, and he’s putting politics aside. He wants to help ICE take criminal threats off the street,” Homan said of Mayor Adams. “He wants to help ICE look for national security threats. He wants to help ICE find over 340,000 missing children, which many are going to be in the city. So a great meeting.”
