New York's Migrant Problem Could Soon Get Out of Control -- Here's Why

The mayor of the nation's largest city, New York City, and some of his most vocal critics share a common concern: an increasing number of homeless migrants will soon be seeking shelter on the city's streets, in subway cars, and other unsuitable places for human habitation, according to USA Today.

Since last spring, more than 125,000 New York migrants from other countries have arrived in New York, and roughly half of them are currently residing in shelters, as reported by Mayor Eric Adams.

Many of these migrants were transported from the southern US border by Republican governors and may not have established connections within the city, according to immigrant advocates.

The surge of asylum seekers, combined with a long-standing housing affordability crisis and homelessness issue, has caused the city's shelter system to exceed its capacity, city officials and nonprofit staff have indicated.

In October, Mayor Adams warned, "I want to be honest with New Yorkers: You're going to see the visual of running out of room. It's not if, but when. People will be sleeping on our streets."

New York Has Been Vacating Migrants Since July

Since July, the mayor's office has issued over 21,000 notices to migrants in shelters, including families with children, informing them that there is no more available space, Yahoo! News noted.

Individual migrants receive 30-day notices to vacate shelters, while migrant families receive 60-day notices.

As summer transitioned to fall and progressed, the implementation of this policy intensified.

The introduction of time limits on shelter stays represents a significant departure from the more than 40 years of the unique right to shelter in the city, a right that policymakers and homeless advocates have long championed for its life-saving potential.

Among New York migrants who have received these notices, 8,400 have already seen their time limits expire, meaning they are required to leave the shelter.

However, returning to the shelter system is not guaranteed, leading to confusion and chaos among affected individuals.

Most of those who reached the end of their time limit have not returned to shelters, and migrants without work authorizations may struggle to afford rent on their own.

New York City's extensive shelter system has historically provided refuge for a significant portion of its homeless population, keeping them mostly indoors and sheltered from inclement weather conditions.

However, advocates now warn that this situation may rapidly change, particularly with winter approaching in the Northeast.

Christine Quinn, CEO of the homeless shelter Win NYC and former speaker of the New York City Council, expressed concern, stating, "People will be on the street.

For the first time in almost 50 years, we will see children on the street. It is simply not acceptable."

New York Migrant Problem: Newcomers Might Stay in Tents

In response to this ongoing US migrant crisis, city officials in October have considered distributing small tents to arriving migrants and potentially establishing campsite-style shelters in public parks, per the NY Post.

Mayor Eric Adams and other officials have been exploring the idea of encampments and looking for suitable outdoor spaces to address the continuous influx of migrants in the city.

While the city has already set up Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center pop-up sites, the new plan would involve creating campground sites in parks and other outdoor areas.

When asked about the tent plan, a City Hall spokesperson mentioned, "All options are on the table."

Mayor Adams has emphasized the need to find a humane solution to the overburdened shelter system.

However, some organizations, including the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless, have criticized the plan, arguing that distributing tents before winter would jeopardize lives and go against the decades-old mandate of the Right to Shelter, which requires the city to provide housing for anyone in need, to prevent people from freezing to death on the streets.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Cities struggle to shelter migrants - From NBC News