The tent shelter at Floyd Bennett Field, NYC has sheltered some illegal immigrants but is now causing problems for the nearby residents. The problem seemed to have started when these people started visiting the neighboring community’s houses. According to New York Post, sitting outside different stores, outside malls and going around knocking on doors are just some of the things they are doing.
David Fitzgerald, 62, a Marine Park resident mentioned that it was an “invasion of immigrants.” He said he has seen them everywhere in the neighborhood and seen them asking for money. He also mentioned how his neighbors are worried about safety due to the situation. Another resident shared his concerns over the safety issue and mentioned that, as a taxpayer, he did not feel safe.
The following tweet shared by Collin Rugg reflects the growing issue. The tweet mentions migrants as a part of living in a “Sanctuary City”, adding to the growing social media coverage. The issue became more visible when Curtis Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder, shared a video taken outside Floyd Bennett Field. Sliwa pointed out that the migrants are begging door to door and highlighted that there seemed to be a lack of rules and regulations.
In the same video taken by Sliwa, he talked about the structure in the area, lack of discipline from the city, and the chaos caused by the migrants. Sliwa mentioned that they were working on a plan, and that something needed to be done about the situation. In another tweet, he pointed out the ongoing problems informing the readers that the quality of life issues are on the rise due to the migrant tents.
The situation does not seem to slow down and continues to raise concerns in the neighborhood. The continuous distress mentioned by the residents has piqued residents’ concerns on a large scale. It is clear that the community members want a solution to be enforced by the authorities. The problem seems to have grown enough to gather social media attention, and with no effective action, the situation seems to be far from a solution.
