In response to an influx of migrants, NYC mayor Eric Adams’ administration has been directing individuals from city shelters to a Manhattan-based operation solely dedicated to booking one-way plane tickets. The practice disperses migrants to various national and international destinations. Despite criticism suggesting a lack of compassion, City Hall defends the initiative as being different from past cases involving migrant relocation, stressing that migrants aren’t being coerced into leaving.
The aggressive “reticketing” strategy comes amid a significant influx of migrants — 130,000 since the previous year — with new arrivals being forced out of shelters after a 30-day stay. Migrants have chosen to fly to places as distant as Colombia and Morocco. Adams also warns that those ending up on the streets might only have access to bathroom facilities, with the possibility of distributing tents also being considered.
This reaction to the immigration surge from Mayor Adams comes as around 4,000 newcomers arrive in the city every week. Officials claim that at least a portion of the shelter squeeze is successful, with less than 20% of vacated migrants attempting to return to the city’s care. However, the final destination of a majority of people ejected from shelters remains unknown. In the meantime, the city continues to guide migrants to the reticketing center housed in a repurposed East Village church office.