Curfew to go into effect at 20 more shelters housing asylum seekers in New York City
NEW YORK (WABC) -- More asylum seekers staying at New York City shelters will be subject to curfews starting Monday.
Under the new rules, approximately 3,600 migrants at 20 additional shelters will no longer be able to leave or enter the shelters between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The curfew policy is already in effect at some of the larger migrant shelters and is common in many homeless shelters.
A statement from New York City Hall says the city is implement curfews at smaller, HPD-run sites "to allow for more efficient capacity management for migrants in the city's care."
However, concerns remain about migrants in the city given the arrests of Venezuelan migrants in the last few weeks during incidents that happened before 11 p.m.
Eyewitness News spoke to some migrants who will be impacted by the new curfew, and they said they do not mind the new rule as long as those who have work can stay out past 11 p.m., which they can.
Many of the migrants said they have young children, and if they are not working, they are usually asleep by 11 p.m. anyway, so they do not feel affected by the new policy.
Neighbors of one of the small hotels housing migrants in Hell's Kitch on West 46th Street said they have not had any issues with migrant safety.
If anything, residents say they are concerned for the safety of the migrants in an area that usually sees a lot of nightlife traffic, which means noise and drinking and partying -- from people who are not migrants.
"I don't see how that, when people are drinking, and they're high, that necessarily mixes with a family with small children, who have just come to the city," said Mike Murphy, who lives near a migrant shelter.
Some residents even welcome the migrants.
"We are a nation of immigrants. There are 100 reasons why we need them. This doesn't bother us. This is what makes our country wonderful, and the rest of the nation needs to understand that. As long as we have room, that's fine," said Pamela Mincey, who lives near a migrant shelter.
There are more than 200 emergency shelters housing migrants across the city. It is not clear why these 20 were selected for a curfew, but it could have to do with the numbers of people staying there.
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