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UPDATE Mayor: Orchard Beach Asylum Seeker Relief Center to be Moved to Randall’s Island

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By SÍLE MOLONEY
A SCREENSHOT OF the flooded Orchard Beach asylum seeker relief center on Oct. 1, 2022. 
Image via Twitter

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday evening, Oct. 3, that the Orchard Beach relief center which was targeted to house up to a thousand asylum seekers will be moved to Randall’s Island in Manhattan. The announcement comes after a weekend of both protests and flooding at Orchard Beach, located in the Northeast Bronx, and further to the mayor’s earlier announcement on Sept. 22 of the construction of the Orchard Beach site, as reported.

 

“New York City has, on its own, safely and efficiently provided shelter, health care, education, and a host of other services to more than 16,000 asylum seekers pursuing a better life over the last few months,” Adams said as part of the Oct. 3 announcement. “As we now work to open the city’s first Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center, safety for those seeking asylum remains our top priority.”

 

The mayor continued, “Following this weekend’s storms, New York City Emergency Management determined that, while we would be able to put in place the necessary ponding mitigation measures, relocating the Orchard Beach humanitarian relief center to Randall’s Island is the most efficient and effective path forward, and work is underway to make this move.”

 

He concluded, “This new location is less prone to flooding, is closer to public transportation, and will provide temporary respite to 500 asylum seekers. We expect this site to open in approximately the same timeframe as the originally planned location, and we continue to build out our options and explore additional sites as we handle this humanitarian crisis created by human hands.”

 

As reported, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson had previously cited concerns over flooding with locating the relief center at Orchard Beach, as well as lack of adequate transportation connectivity. Adams administration officials said on Sept. 22 that other centers were also due to be opened in other locations across the city, in addition to Orchard Beach.

 

In light of the mayor’s most recent announcement on Oct. 3, Gibson released as statement on Tuesday, Oct. 4, saying, “During times of great challenge, New York has always stepped up to help support those in need. As our City has seen an increase in asylum seekers, it is important for us to share in this emergency crisis and ensure that we are all doing our part to assist.”

 

She continued, “While I am thankful that the administration has recognized the challenges with the Orchard Beach parking lot site and has decided on an alternate location, I raise similar concerns about flooding during the Hurricane season on Randall’s Island.”

 

She added, “As borough resident, I am committed to working with the administration, Borough President Mark Levine and other stakeholders on ensuring that important services are provided for individuals with compassion, dignity and humanity. Although the new Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Response Center has been relocated to Manhattan, we all remain committed to helping those individuals and families who are entering our City seeking permanent housing. That is our responsibility as a city.”

 

City officials had previously announced that the centers were to support the hundreds of asylum seekers arriving in New York City each day from Texas and other border states and would provide assistance to newly arriving individuals. They added at the time that they would ensure asylum seekers continued to be connected to the full range of services and supports they needed.

They said such humanitarian relief centers were the first touch point for arriving asylum seekers, “helping people by immediately offering shelter, food, medical care, case work services, and a range of settlement options including through connections to family and friends inside and outside of New York City, in addition to, if needed, the possibility of direct referrals to alternative emergency supports or city shelter.”

 

During the Sept. 22 announcement, Adams had said of the centers, “More than 100 years ago, Ellis Island opened its doors to welcome in those ‘yearning to breathe free.’ Now, more than ever, it’s clear that we are again dealing with a humanitarian crisis created by human hands. While other leaders have abdicated their moral duty to support arriving asylum seekers, New York City refuses to do so.”

 

City officials said NYC Department of Emergency Management and NYC Health + Hospitals were due to operate the centers in partnership with other city agencies, and along with contracting partners and providers, to provide what they described as comprehensive, on-site services and referrals. They said two humanitarian relief centers were due to be opened in a matter of weeks. Orchard Beach was due to open first, serving adults, and a second location was still being finalized. City officials said all relief centers would be expertly designed and built as climate-controlled, safe spaces.

A past example of what the outside of a Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center will look like. New York City’s setups will likely have some differences.
Photo courtesy of NYC Department of Emergency Management

Officials added that to the extent possible, buses would arrive directly at the centers or be directed there from Port Authority. Upon arrival, they said all asylum seekers who wanted them would be provided with settlement options, as well as immediate health, safety, and legal information. Asylum seekers who did not or could not find immediate housing were set to stay at the relief centers for 24 to 96 hours approximately, according to city officials, who said that these timeframes were subject to change depending on the situation.

 

They added that additional assessment time was to ensure asylum seekers understood their options, and could get to their desired destination quickly and smoothly.

 

Adams had added in September, “This is not an everyday homelessness crisis, but a humanitarian crisis that requires a different approach. That’s why the humanitarian emergency response and relief centers will be the first touchpoint for asylum seekers that will provide them with a range of services and support as families determine their next steps.”

 

The mayor said the emergency response represented what New Yorkers knew had to be done during such a humanitarian crisis, as the City, according to the mayor, continues to seek assistance from federal and State partners to continue the work. “Like the generations that came to our City before, New York will provide the thousands now coming to our City with the foundation to build a better life,” he said.

 

Reacting to the news on Sept. 26, for her part, Gibson had said, in part, “The City of New York is a right-to-shelter city and is legally required to provide temporary housing to those who enter our shelter system. As we continue to be overwhelmed with single adults and families in need of housing, the administration has decided to implement an option to provide temporary housing in certain designated locations starting with the Orchard Beach parking lot.”

A past example of what the inside of a Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center will look like that would only shelter single adults. Families would be sheltered in a humanitarian relief center with a different setup.
Photo courtesy of NYC Department of Emergency Management

She had added at the time, “While this is not the ideal location, and we have raised reasonable concerns, my team and I are working with the Adams administration to ensure that any site designated for our borough has wraparound services. These services must be provided in a dignified, humane, quality, and safe space that does not do further harm nor add burden to clients and families. Under these emergency circumstances, we will work together with the administration in a balanced and strategic manner to ensure The Bronx is not overburdened but rather an equal part of these important conversations moving forward.”

As reported by the New York Daily News, AOL and other outlets, though she did not oppose the opening of the center, Gibson reportedly cited potential flooding and poor transportation connectivity as some of the reasons for her concerns over its location. The center was expected to house up to 1,000 migrants, according to City officials.

 

The news came on the back of a recent move by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who recently instructed the transportation of nearly 50 Venezuelan asylum seekers and migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, as immigration lawyers representing the group decried the order as an “appalling” political stunt that should never be allowed to happen again, according to The Guardian.

 

A further wave of inward migration may follow in the wake of Hurricane Fiona which recently devastated Puerto Rico. While the mayor has publicly committed his support to Puerto Ricans following the hurricane, and recently returned from a visit to the island, other elected officials called for a waiver to be implemented in respect of the prevailing Jones Act.

As previously reported by Norwood News, the law, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a federal statute establishing support for the development and maintenance of a merchant marine in order to support commercial activity, and serve as a naval auxiliary in times of war or national emergency, according to Cornell Law School. Among other things, it requires shipping between U.S. ports to be conducted by US-flag ships.

 

Media outlets reported on a fuel shipment located off the coast of Puerto Rico which had been precluded from docking due to the Jones Act.

 

As news of the Orchard Beach site spread, a number of rallies opposing its location there were held over the weekend.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly referenced Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Governor of Texas. We apologize for this error.

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