In Effort to Curb Spate on Crime City Expands Curfew on Migrant Shelters

Photo byAles KriveconUnsplash

On Monday, a curfew in New York City will be extended to about 3,600 migrants at 20 additional shelters. The city is enforcing the restriction that at 11 pm, migrants will not be permitted to enter or leave the shelters. A curfew was first imposed on four shelters by city officials last month in response to community concerns.

A statement from New York City Hall says the city is implementing curfews at smaller, HPD-run sites "to allow for more efficient capacity management for migrants in the city's care."

A 15-year-old Venezuelan teenager was detained on Friday after he opened fire in Times Square while escaping from law enforcement after being stopped by security for allegedly stealing a shirt. One Brazilian visitor was hurt in the shooting.

A video that went viral last month in Times Square showed a group of migrants fighting with police; it also resulted in multiple arrests.

A spokesperson from Mayor Adams' office, Kayla Mamelak, said Sunday, "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 24 migrant shelters that are currently under the 11 pm to 6 am curfew make up a small portion of the more than 200 shelters that the city runs to accommodate the approximately 66,000 recently arrived asylum seekers.