Asylum seekers arrive a Port Authority Bus Terminal hours after Title 42 ends
NEW YORK -- Two buses filled with migrants from Texas pulled into the Port Authority Bus Terminal early Friday morning, hours after the end of Title 42, a COVID-era police that quickly expelled migrants.
On board were families with children, some with injuries from the journey and others just overjoyed to he here.
They were welcomed by local leaders and nonprofits.
"To make sure that people are not left stranded and abandoned," said Power Malu, with Artists, Athletes, Activists.
Read More: New York City will use public school facilities to house asylum seekers
With potentially 500 migrants arriving daily, the city is trying to figure out where to house them all.
"I understand the angst because I have it as well, but we have to coordinate this," said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
According to officials, 130 emergency sites and eight humanitarian relief centers have opened with limits already reach.
Mayor Eric Adams temporarily weakened the right-to-shelter law, which required families to be sheltered in private rooms. Now, they could be placed in group settings, like gyms, where advocates are concerned about disease and crime.
"Unfortunately, there's been some dangerous talk about putting families in congregate settings, and we're totally against that," said Malu.
Local leaders and advocates are asking President Joe Biden and Gov. Kathy Hochul to step up. They said New York City can't handle the thousands of arrivals on its own.
"We need federal emergency status declared in New York City and therefore the feds would come in with more of their funding," said Dr. Elaine Wood, an immigration attorney at Hayman-Woodward.
Upon arrival, asylum seekers receive a video to help them navigate the system. Currently, they have to wait 180 days for work papers.
Manuel Gonzalez, who fled Venezuela, told us it took eight months to get here. It was a dangerous journey, he said, but he wants a job to support his wife and child.
"The United States is big and believe me, everyone needs workers. Perhaps there is work out there that people don't want to do and us immigrants can do," Gonzalez said in Spanish.
Since last spring, over 65,000 asylum seekers have come through New York City and been offered a place to stay. Currently, over 39,400 are in the city's care.
