Standoff between city, migrants heads in 3rd day as asylum seekers sleep in snow, cold

The standoff between migrants and the city heads was in its third day Wednesday as asylum seekers brace the cold outside the Watson Hotel in Hells Kitchen.

News 12 Staff

Feb 1, 2023, 11:51 AM

Updated 495 days ago

Share:

UPDATE: As the third day concludes for those camping outside of the Watson Hotel, the mayor's office provided this statement:
“We are grateful that almost all single men who were staying at the Watson Hotel have chosen to heed our calls and come inside from the frigid temperatures tonight. The single men who were staying at the Watson have now all either chosen to transfer to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal — a humanitarian relief center that multiple elected officials today called a ‘warm’ location — or decided to leave our care by connecting with friends, family, or other networks. Tonight, a joint effort by multiple city agencies began to clean up the block and encourage the few dozen asylum seekers to come inside as temperatures continued to drop. Immediately, most of the asylum seekers decided to board our busses and go to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, while six asylum seekers chose to be reticketed to meet friends or family in other cities and the remaining asylum seekers chose to go their own ways as agitators outside the Watson continued to encourage them to endanger their lives in these freezing temperatures and not accept shelter. To be clear, no arrests were made tonight, and the only items discarded were those on the street. Any items asylum seekers had in their rooms are still in our care and will remain available for pick up. Additionally, those who chose 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.”
ORIGINAL: The standoff between migrants and the city was in its third day Wednesday as asylum seekers brace the cold outside the Watson Hotel in Hells Kitchen.
The standoff started Sunday night when city officials conducted a sweep of the hotel asking migrants inside to leave.
While New York City Immigration Affairs showed videos of the asylum seekers settling down in the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, those outside the Watson Hotel refuse to leave saying the conditions in the terminal are less than favorable.
The mayor's office says the city surpassed its moral obligation to extend help to the migrants. The city believes sign of protest was created as a way to stop efforts to support asylum seekers.
While asylum seekers were given the option to tour the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal facility, the majority of those camped outside the hotel declined the offer.
However, not all migrants who visited the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal are unhappy saying food, showers and bathrooms were available. 
The city planned to use the hotel for migrant families while the terminal was supposed to house about 1,000 single adult males.


More from News 12
0:43
JetBlue to begin nonstop service from MacArthur Airport to 3 Florida destinations

JetBlue to begin nonstop service from MacArthur Airport to 3 Florida destinations

1:44
Sun and clouds with a high near 76 across Long Island today

Sun and clouds with a high near 76 across Long Island today

2:24
Police: Human remains discovered at construction site at Eagle Rock Apartments in Woodbury

Police: Human remains discovered at construction site at Eagle Rock Apartments in Woodbury

0:34
Police: Medford man arrested for fatal hit-and-run

Police: Medford man arrested for fatal hit-and-run

0:27
Police: Man, woman took woman's debit card in North Babylon, withdrew $3,000 from bank account

Police: Man, woman took woman's debit card in North Babylon, withdrew $3,000 from bank account

1:57
Long Island’s Tom Pecinka earns first Tony nomination as featured actor in ‘Stereo-Phonic’

Long Island’s Tom Pecinka earns first Tony nomination as featured actor in ‘Stereo-Phonic’

1:53
Made on Long Island: Matthew James Heart and Home in Levittown

Made on Long Island: Matthew James Heart and Home in Levittown

1:58
Police: 64-year-old woman struck in the face while sleeping inside Levittown home

Police: 64-year-old woman struck in the face while sleeping inside Levittown home

0:49
US cricket team prepares for World Cup match vs. India on Wednesday

US cricket team prepares for World Cup match vs. India on Wednesday

2:09
Nassau Legislature Rules Committee passes bill that would ban trans women from female sports at county facilities

Nassau Legislature Rules Committee passes bill that would ban trans women from female sports at county facilities

2:01
New York SED proposes plan to remove Regents exams from high school graduation requirement

New York SED proposes plan to remove Regents exams from high school graduation requirement

0:20
Police identify motorcyclist killed in crash near LIU Post campus

Police identify motorcyclist killed in crash near LIU Post campus

1:31
Island Harvest growing different kinds of produce to meet needs of community

Island Harvest growing different kinds of produce to meet needs of community

1:57
Bellmore man sentenced in drunk driving incident that left man in a coma

Bellmore man sentenced in drunk driving incident that left man in a coma

0:27
Suffolk police to hold vehicle auction this weekend in Westhampton

Suffolk police to hold vehicle auction this weekend in Westhampton

1:16
Nassau Community College teachers’ union releases documents showing top administrators gave themselves raises

Nassau Community College teachers’ union releases documents showing top administrators gave themselves raises

Is your dad awesome? Long Island tell us why your dad rocks!

Is your dad awesome? Long Island tell us why your dad rocks!

0:24
Police: Arrest made in May shooting in Manhasset

Police: Arrest made in May shooting in Manhasset

2024 Cricket World Cup on Long Island - Special Coverage

2024 Cricket World Cup on Long Island - Special Coverage