Migrants protest for 2nd day outside of Watson Hotel seeking fairer living conditions

Those outside of the hotel were screaming “no a la discriminacion a los immigrantes” – meaning no to discrimination of immigrants.

News 12 Staff

Jan 31, 2023, 10:12 PM

Updated 481 days ago

Share:

Asylum seekers and migrant advocates protested outside of the Watson Hotel for a second day and say they won’t leave until they get fair and safe living conditions.  
Those outside of the hotel were screaming “no a la discriminacion a los immigrantes” – meaning no to discrimination of immigrants.  
Multiple activists and elected officials joined those outside of the hotel, telling them they will be safe and taken care of at the new migrant housing center in Red Hook. But migrants say they are not leaving to move there.  
Those in the migrant housing system say they’re asking for privacy and safety in their living spaces, saying the Brooklyn Terminal location in Red Hook does not provide them enough.  
They say that the hundreds of beds in one place and lack of a place to securely store personal belongings is not fair, and that they’d rather stay out in the cold and fight for better conditions.  
Mayor Eric Adams’ office says the new Brooklyn location is equipped with what they need and most of what they are asking for - including heating, beds, safety, and ample storage space. 
The mayor's office provided the following statement: 
“This weekend, we began the process of moving single adult men from the Watson Hotel to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, as we transition the hotel to meet the large number of asylum-seeking families with children. More than 43,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City since last spring and we continue to surpass our moral obligations as we provide asylum seekers with shelter, food, health care, education, and a host of other services. The facilities at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal will provide the same services as every other humanitarian relief center in the city, and the scheduled relocations to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal are taking place as planned. We remain in serious need of support from both our state and federal governments.”


More from News 12
0:40
Family lawyer: 6-day search at Heuermann home appeared to be focused in the basement

Family lawyer: 6-day search at Heuermann home appeared to be focused in the basement

2:27
STORM WATCH: Threat of severe storms on Long Island for Memorial Day

STORM WATCH: Threat of severe storms on Long Island for Memorial Day

0:25
Suffolk police: 12 drivers arrested at sobriety checkpoint in Patchogue

Suffolk police: 12 drivers arrested at sobriety checkpoint in Patchogue

Guide: 2024 Memorial Day Parades on Long Island

Guide: 2024 Memorial Day Parades on Long Island

0:38
Adelphi wins 8th NCAA DII men’s lacrosse championship, 1st in 23 years

Adelphi wins 8th NCAA DII men’s lacrosse championship, 1st in 23 years

Wennberg scores in OT, Rangers top Panthers 5-4 to take lead in East finals

Wennberg scores in OT, Rangers top Panthers 5-4 to take lead in East finals

2:23
Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach ends early due to ‘poor weather conditions’

Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach ends early due to ‘poor weather conditions’

0:42
139th-annual Memorial Day Parade marches through Hempstead Village

139th-annual Memorial Day Parade marches through Hempstead Village

0:30
Police: Good Samaritan rescues 3 people from boat fire in Great South Bay

Police: Good Samaritan rescues 3 people from boat fire in Great South Bay

0:27
Police: 2 motorcyclists hospitalized following collision with Amazon van in Roslyn

Police: 2 motorcyclists hospitalized following collision with Amazon van in Roslyn

1:50
Officials: Multiple crews respond to small explosion, fire at Valley Stream home

Officials: Multiple crews respond to small explosion, fire at Valley Stream home

0:36
Memorial Day parade makes its way through Island Park

Memorial Day parade makes its way through Island Park

2:08
Blood test that detects colon cancer close to receiving FDA approval

Blood test that detects colon cancer close to receiving FDA approval

1:52
170,000+ pour into Jones Beach for aerial spectacular feats of Bethpage Air Show

170,000+ pour into Jones Beach for aerial spectacular feats of Bethpage Air Show

0:24
Police: Manhattan man arrested, accused of taking photos up woman’s skirt in East Farmingdale store

Police: Manhattan man arrested, accused of taking photos up woman’s skirt in East Farmingdale store

0:45
Police: 2 suspects face charges for robbery, assault at Hicksville smoke shop

Police: 2 suspects face charges for robbery, assault at Hicksville smoke shop

1:52
Record crowds of over 106,000 watch practice show of Bethpage Air Show

Record crowds of over 106,000 watch practice show of Bethpage Air Show

1:59
 Multiple vehicle crash shuts down Roosevelt road for hours

Multiple vehicle crash shuts down Roosevelt road for hours

2:21
Long Island beaches open for the summer

Long Island beaches open for the summer

0:27
Man arrested in hit-and-run that seriously injured University of Albany student from Floral Park

Man arrested in hit-and-run that seriously injured University of Albany student from Floral Park