Dozens of New York City residents, including elected officials and veterans, rallied in protest on Sunday against the tent shelter at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field as the city’s lease with the federal government nears its expiration. The shelter, housing 2,000 illegal immigrants, is part of the city’s response to accommodating over 214,000 arrivals in the last two years.
The lease with the National Park Service ends on September 14, with no automatic renewal guaranteed. Assemblywoman Jaime Williams (R-Brooklyn) voiced frustration with the migrants’ presence, citing incidents of door-knocking and package theft. She criticized the location, calling it a flood zone with no infrastructure to support the shelter’s residents.
Longtime resident Antonia Natal expressed support for legal immigration but opposed illegal shelters, warning of the impact on the city’s economy and housing. Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa echoed concerns, claiming illegal immigrants arrive daily with little legal consequence.
A City Hall spokesperson defended the shelter, stating it remains essential with over 210 emergency sites in operation and hundreds of new arrivals weekly. They urged federal support as protests, like a similar one in June, continue to grow.
In August, the House Committee on Natural Resources subpoenaed the Department of Homeland Security, seeking information on the site selection and tenant vetting process amid reports of crime at the shelter.
