The sprawling tent complex that housed hundreds of migrant families on a remote former airport in Brooklyn has been closed by New York City, as the emergency shelter system set up in response to a decrease in arrivals from the southern border is being scaled back. The last of the approximately 2,000 residents at Floyd Bennett Field, a once bustling airport, left the enclosed area over the weekend, and crews have started dismantling the large structure.
Advocates had raised concerns that the facility, located on leased federal land, might be at risk of immigration raids as President-elect Donald Trump took office. Jehinzo Gonzalez, a 47-year-old from Venezuela, shared that he and his family were moved to another city-operated shelter close by just a week before Christmas. He described the new shelter as more dignified, with three rooms for their family of five, comfortable beds, and a private bathroom, a stark contrast to the conditions they were living in at the airport tent camp since October.
New York City has witnessed over 250,000 migrants arriving since the spring of 2022, with new arrivals decreasing for 27 consecutive weeks and now at the lowest level in more than a year, according to Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. Currently, about 50,000 migrants are housed in approximately 200 temporary sites, a decline from nearly 70,000 last January. However, the closure of shelters and forced relocations have disrupted the lives of many migrant families, impacting their work, schooling, and daily routines as they try to establish themselves in the city.
Groups advocating for migrants believe more should be done to help them transition to permanent housing, including ending policies restricting their stay in shelters and providing better case management and legal support for gaining immigration status and work permits. They recommend integrating newly arrived migrants into the city’s existing shelter system to avoid segregation and vulnerability to immigration enforcement.
As concerns about potential immigration crackdowns under the new administration persist, many migrants remain uncertain about their futures despite the relief of moving out of the temporary shelters.
The Floyd Bennett Field shelter came under scrutiny as concerns were raised regarding the adherence to laws by the incoming Trump administration. A resident expressed the importance of respecting the laws, highlighting that he and his wife had applied for asylum, possessed valid working papers, and were employed part-time at a local grocery store. He emphasized their compliance with the country’s regulations and expressed hope for a positive outcome.
Further shelter closures are anticipated in the following weeks as the administration led by Adams persists in reducing the shelter system. A substantial tent complex located on Randall’s Island, a park off Manhattan, has been gradually evacuated in preparation for its imminent closure scheduled for the upcoming month.
On Friday, the administration also declared the closure of 10 additional shelters, including one situated in a compound of warehouses near a highway in Brooklyn that previously accommodated over 3,300 single men at its peak. Overall, these measures are expected to decrease the migrant housing capacity in the city by approximately 7,800 beds. This calculation considers the establishment of a new brick-and-mortar shelter in the Bronx, intended to house more than 2,200 migrant men who are being relocated from the tent shelters set for closure, as confirmed by the mayor’s office.
This report includes information contributed by Associated Press writer Cedar Attanasio in New York. For updates and further developments, follow Philip Marcelo on Twitter at twitter.com/philmarcelo.
