[New York Diary] Crisis in New York, the "City of Immigrants"

A "City of Immigrants" Faces a New Crisis
Overflowing Migrant Influx Tests New York's Limits
Political and Financial Strains Deepen as City Struggles to Provide Shelter
Debate Intensifies Ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election

New York City in the United States is often called the "city of immigrants." Ellis Island, where hundreds of thousands of immigrants who dreamed of the American Dream went through immigration procedures, is located here, and about 37% of the resident population is identified as either foreign-born or having parents born abroad. With more than 170 languages spoken in New York, it is easy to nod in agreement with expressions like "melting pot" and "crucible of races."

Recently, however, New York has been struggling with an overwhelming influx of immigrants and migrants. Since last spring, more than 90,000 migrants have flooded into New York City. No matter how large the city is, it is difficult to handle an endless wave of migrants. As a result, at the end of last month and the beginning of this month, dozens to hundreds of migrants occupied the sidewalks in front of a hotel located in the heart of Manhattan, creating a scene reminiscent of a "refugee camp." Local media outlets such as NBC and The New York Times (NYT) have been reporting daily that "blue state" New York is facing an immigrant crisis.

On the 1st (local time), migrants lined up on the sidewalk in front of the Roosevelt Hotel, a representative temporary shelter in Manhattan, New York.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The seemingly overwhelmed situation appeared to calm down somewhat after about a week. Now, in front of the Roosevelt Hotel, a representative migrant reception facility in Manhattan, there are no longer hundreds of migrants gathered or sleeping on the streets. Reports from local media have also relatively subsided. However, the immigrant crisis in New York City is not resolved. The NYT pointed out that "the flow of migrants has not stopped," confirming that "2,900 additional migrants arrived in New York City just last week." Due to the lack of reception facilities, migrants who had occupied the sidewalks in front of the hotel have reportedly moved to a large church in Queens, a recreation center in Brooklyn's Sunset Park, and hotels in upstate areas.

Why has this situation occurred in New York City? There is first a political factor. Most of these migrants, primarily from Latin America, are believed to have traveled by bus from border-adjacent states such as Texas, Florida, and Arizona. Republican governors like Greg Abbott of Texas, who have strongly criticized President Joe Biden's immigration policies, have been sending migrants who crossed the border by bus to blue states such as New York and Washington DC since last year. They argue that the Biden administration and the Democratic Party, which have pursued pro-immigration policies, should take responsibility. Moreover, New York City is the only major U.S. city with a "right to shelter order," which requires providing shelter facilities upon request by refugees. Many migrants come to New York City expecting shelter facilities to be provided under this order. This legal obligation is one of the reasons New York City has always been called a city of immigrants.

But what happens when a city that must provide shelter to everyone runs out of shelter space? On the 9th (local time), New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference and strongly requested federal government intervention in the migrant issue, saying, "There is no more room."

Currently, the costs for accommodations and food provided to migrants are covered by taxes paid by New York City residents. It is estimated that $5 billion has already been spent this year alone. This amount exceeds the combined budgets for health, fire, and parks in New York City. The additional financial burden New York City will bear over the next three years due to the migrant issue is expected to reach $12 billion. Mayor Adams criticized, "There are border states that have received more money than us from the federal government," adding, "They are using that money to put people on buses to New York." He also expressed concern, saying, "The compassion of New Yorkers may be infinite, but New York City's resources are not infinite," and "The situation will not improve; now it is downhill."

As he said, the real immigrant crisis in New York City may be just beginning. New Yorkers, who will bear the cost burden of unconditional acceptance, will each face their own test. Allison, who has lived in New York for 10 years and is originally from the southern United States, said, "We need to find humanitarian and compassionate ways," and questioned, "Otherwise, can this place be called America or New York, which values democracy and freedom?" On the other hand, a New Yorker who requested anonymity dismissed the issue, saying, "Our taxes are not for charity." Voices opposing New York City's migrant policies have also been heard in places like Brooklyn's Sunset Park, where migrants have been urgently accommodated.

Above all, the clear fact is that this issue will ultimately become a hot political topic that will permeate the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The election is fast approaching.