New York to Open Tent Camp for Migrants on Randalls Island
The city of New York opens an overnight tent camp for thousands of migrants seeking to enter the United States legally and remain in the country. The location is on Randalls Island, a New York City harbor island that is home to numerous immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations.
(Published Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2019)
As the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has skyrocketed, many of those crossing have been unaccompanied by family members, who would be eligible for government help if they enter the United States illegally.
The government’s policy of not providing a bed or bedding to unaccompanied children, the main reason for many who do cross illegally entering the country, has been criticized by many within the immigration community.
To address the need for a place for children to sleep on the island, the city of New York has opened a temporary city-sponsored tent camp for children from Central America.
The camp will be administered by the nonprofit organization, New York City Coalition for Immigrant Children and Families, which has assisted the City of New York in creating the temporary city-funded tent camp.
The organization has previously helped the city of New York provide more than 300 shelter beds for the homeless, including sleeping mats and blankets.
The encampment is set to open in January, according to a Wednesday news release from the New York City Coalition for Immigrant Children and Families, which said it will provide all meals for the young people, including peanut butter, beans, corn and crackers.
Each night, the camp will be staffed by nonprofit staff from the New York City Coalition for Immigrant Children and Families.
The organization has previously run food services, health clinics and preschools for young immigrants, mostly from El Salvador.
“We know that being able to have resources on the island like the City of New York provides would be a real blessing