The recent influx of unlawful migrants into northern cities is beginning to disturb some residents as crime increases and public spaces are being used for emergency housing.
In New York City, a group of as many as 11 unlawful migrants attacked two police officers just feet from a shelter on January 27, as reported by The Dallas Express. The incident was captured on video, and several suspects were arrested, however, some were released shortly thereafter and have since fled the jurisdiction. At least two from the group were known gang members, and all of the suspects had prior criminal convictions.
The video caused an uproar and led to heightened attention to crimes committed by unlawful migrants. The New York Police Department said that only a small percentage of the city’s unlawful migrant population is involved in criminal activity.
“In recent months, a wave of migrant crime has washed over our city, but by no means do the individuals committing these crimes represent the vast number of people coming to New York to build a better life,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said at a press conference on earlier this month. “But they are, nonetheless, preying on New Yorkers and making our city less safe. And so as with any other criminal enterprise, the NYPD and its partners at the District Attorney’s Office move with purpose to disrupt their operations and hold them accountable.”
The press conference was held in response to news that a warrant had been served on a group of unlawful migrants accused of running a criminal robbery ring using stolen scooters and mopeds to steal from pedestrians, primarily women walking alone on city streets. A total of 62 robberies had been reported. Authorities believed that 12 individuals were responsible.
The criminal ring was allegedly led by a Venezuelan who was also hiring unlawful migrants to steal cell phones. The phones were hacked, giving the purported criminals access to the personal data and bank accounts of their victims. Bank accounts were drained, and the phones would be sent to Miami and Houston to eventually be shipped to Columbia to be reprogrammed and sold.
The growing number of unlawful migrants has also impacted Massachusetts. By state law, authorities are required to provide any person, regardless of immigration status, shelter. On February 2, a coalition, which included Gov. Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, organized a public listening session via Zoom that featured a cadre of state and local representatives. Around 250 residents of the town of Roxbury attended to hear about the state’s plan to temporarily take over a public recreation hall and turn it into a shelter for unlawful migrants.
Massachusetts has been housing unlawful migrants at Logan Airport, a situation that has grown increasingly chaotic as the number of migrants continues to grow. The takeover of a recreation center in Roxbury is supposed to help alleviate the overcrowding at the airport.
“It’s just a broad level of disrespect for our community that we encounter on a regular basis, and this issue with the immigrants is just the latest chapter,” said Sadiki Kambon, director of the Black Community Information Center, in an interview with WBUR. “I’m sympathetic to the immigrants and their status, but we have a lot of other issues out here that need to be addressed.”
Healey later promised to return the shelter to the public by June 30 “with upgrades.” It is expected to begin housing unlawful migrants in May once the facility has been modified to accommodate up to 400 people.
