NEW YORK — The NYPD removed asylum seekers from outside the Watson Hotel in Midtown on Wednesday night as controversy continued over the city’s decision to move them to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.
NYPD officers descended on the asylum seekers’ camp, ordered them to pack their belongings from the sidewalk and leave.
In Spanish, Carlos Espinosa told CBS2’s Ali Bauman that the police presence scared him and he hadn’t decided where to go.
Espinosa is one of many asylum seekers who have been sleeping outside the hotel since Sunday, refusing to relocate to the city of Brooklyn.
“They were given two options. Two buses go to Red Hook, Brooklyn. One bus goes to the 30th Street shelter for the boys,” said Luna Gray, with Mutual Aid.
Most outside of Watson decided to take the bus to the Brooklyn shelter, but we learned that six chose to meet friends or family in other cities. Others are now on their own.
A spokesperson for the mayor released the following statement Wednesday evening:
“We are grateful that nearly every single resident of the Watson Hotel chose to heed our calls and come in from the freezing temperatures tonight. Cruise Terminal — a humanitarian relief center that many elected officials are now calling a ‘hot’ location – or decided to leave our care by connecting with friends, family, or other networks. block and encourage a few dozen asylum seekers to come in as temperatures continue to drop Immediately, most of the asylum seekers decided to board our buses and go to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, while six asylum seekers chose to be re-ticketed to meet friends or family in other cities and the remaining asylum seekers chose their own paths as activists outside Watson continued to encourage them to risk their lives in this frozen tempera laws and will not accept accommodation. To be clear, no arrests were made tonight, and the only items thrown were those on the street. Any belongings that asylum seekers have in their rooms are still in our care and will remain available for collection. Additionally, those who choose to leave on their own tonight will still have the ability to enter the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal if they come to us tomorrow or in the future.
A few hours before that, members of the City Council visited the new facility in Brooklyn.
Lawmakers joined the chorus of calls, criticizing the living conditions inside the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal — the new home for 1,000 asylum seekers.
“The city of New York is trying to discourage people from staying in their care and that’s why they’re setting up this type of gathering facility the way they are,” said Councilman Lincoln Restler.
“I’m primarily concerned about the lack of privacy, and I know our city can do better to make sure these people are housed here with dignity,” said City Councilman Shahana Hanif.
READ MORE: Asylum seekers camped outside the Watson Hotel say they want to hear from Mayor Eric Adams directly
For days, the city struggled to convince Midtown hoteliers to move to Red Hook so hotel rooms could be given to families.
Many refusedchoosing to camp in the cold in front of Watson while argued that the new housing was isolated, lacked transportation, with beds stacked head to toe.
But what do the men who moved there think?
Asylum seekers CBS2 spoke with in Brooklyn on Wednesday said they are adjusting just fine.
“A single person can go anywhere, sleep anywhere, eat anything, but with a child, it’s a different thing,” said Oscar Marin, of Colombia, in Spanish.
Check out Christina Fan’s report
Alejandro Landaeta stayed at the Brooklyn shelter for several days and is said to be in good condition.
When asked what he thought of those who refused to participate, he said in Spanish, “They are lazy. We came here to work, not to keep anyone.”
The city fought back against the negative reaction by posting videos and photos of the facility, which it says has nearly 100 toilets, controlled temperatures, hot showers and three meals a day.
Mayor Eric Adams accused some bad actors of spreading misinformation.
“The overwhelming number of them moved. From my analysis about 30 are still there, and I am not sure that they are migrants. There are some agitators who really … said.
READ MORE: Mayor Adams’ plan to use Brooklyn Cruise Terminal as emergency shelter for asylum seekers faces backlash
But advocates say it’s no wonder why people are angry.
“Nobody wants to sleep with 999 people in the same room. I think it’s a very difficult position to be in, especially for clients who have gone through a lot of trauma,” said Kathryn Kliff, attorney at Legal Aid Society.
Activists and council members say there’s no reason the city can’t open more hotels for asylum seekers, adding the move to Brooklyn adds to their trauma.
RELATED STORY: Answered by Gov. Kathy Hochul funding for asylum seekers, MTA fiscal problems in the state budget
Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul allocated $1 billion in her budget proposal for housing and services for asylum seekers. He also said New York City and the federal government should match the state’s investment.
“We were with the president yesterday, and he said that there is money from the federal government to help the city. He did not give a number, but we believe that they should take a significant part,” said Hochul.
In a statement, the mayor responded in part, “A national crisis requires a national response. We will continue to need our federal and state partners to do their part.”
With the asylum seekers now out of the Watson Hotel and far down the block, sources tell us the city is preparing to move families and children seeking asylum into hotel rooms.
Christina Fan
