New York City is turning to emergency hotels to handle an influx of illegal immigrants that has arrived in recent months, officials have said.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins said on Aug. 9 during testimony at an emergency City Council hearing that the city has opened 11 hotels to accommodate the increased number of immigrants.
Jenkins noted that New York is a right-to-shelter city and is thus “legally and morally obligated” to provide temporary housing to individuals who need a place to stay.
“The influx of asylum-seekers definitely put a strain [on the system], and that’s why we had to pivot to open up emergency hotels. To date, we’ve opened 11,” he said. “We’re legally and morally mandated to have temporary housing to those who present to us.”…