The migrants, many of whom are asylum seekers from East Africa and Central America, had been living in the hotel for over six months and were ordered to leave by the hotel’s owner. They were offered a relocation package that included a move to a Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, where they would receive medical care, food, and housing support.
The migrants refused to leave the hotel and instead took to the streets to protest the relocation, claiming that the conditions in the Brooklyn terminal would be worse than the conditions in the hotel.
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“The living conditions are inhumane. The police even came to the hotel room and started pushing us out. We need to stay here and we will stay here until they give us something better,” said a protestor identified only as ‘Sharon’ to The Daily Mail. “We are not going to Brooklyn. We are stuck here and no one is helping us.”
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The protesters have argued that the relocation package does not provide any long-term protection or stability and will not better their situation. The migrants have asked for housing and support that will last at least one year so that they have time to find jobs and a more stable living environment.
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The protests have caused a stir and have been supported by local advocacy groups.
“It’s really important that these migrants have a safe and secure place to stay,” said Lina Abi Nader, a representative for the New York Immigration Coalition. “These are people who are just trying to survive and are being put in an impossible position.”
Despite the protests, the relocation has gone ahead, and the migrants have been moved to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. However, their fight for a better, more secure living situation continues.
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