State Mandates Curfew For Migrants Due To Panhandling Complaints

(USNewsMag.com) – After multiple complaints from residents in New York City about an increase in panhandling, the city will invoke a curfew for immigrants to try and mitigate the phenomenon amid the ongoing crisis of incoming border-crossers continuing to flood into the Big Apple.

A city hall spokesperson confirmed a curfew will be in place from 11 PM to 6 AM for immigrants sheltered in respite centers. Similar to curfews already implemented for homeless shelters, immigrants will have to check in and out of the centers. The city hall spokesperson said that the new policy allows “for more efficient capacity management” for immigrants in New York City’s care. The curfew went into effect on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

According to a New York Post report, local residents living near the immigrant housing facilities complained that many newcomers are going door-to-door for clothes, food, and other resources.

Joann Ariola, a member of the New York City Council, said that her “constituents are terrified” because there are people “they don’t know at their doorbell.” She said the immigrants are often accompanied by children. Ariola said they also usually bring a cell phone or handheld computer with a message displayed and translated into English, usually identifying themselves as a migrant from the nearby Floyd Bennet Field respite center and asking for money. The councilwoman said it’s “very concerning” because sometimes the immigrants are found trespassing on resident’s property.

The Floyd Bennet Field is now occupied by a tent shelter, housing roughly 2,000 immigrants. During the last snowstorm, they were temporarily moved into the James Madison High School, which forced students to stay home for over a week of remote learning. New York City Mayor Eric Adams justified the move as a safety measure due to the instability of the tent shelter during high-speed winds, snow, and frigid temperatures.

Since the spring of 2022, over 150,000 border-crossers have entered New York City, putting a strain on its resources. Adams, who warned the crisis could “destroy” the city, has continued to plead with the federal government to provide more aid.