Malliotakis, Fossella Statement on Opening of New Migrant Shelters on Staten Island
New migrant shelters opening at the Ramada Inn & Staten Island Motor Lodge
(STATEN ISLAND, NY) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella released the following statement regarding New York City’s handling of the migrant crisis in light of two new migrant shelters opening on Staten Island.
One shelter, which is located at the Ramada Inn on North Gannon Avenue, will house migrants in 35 units, and the other shelter located at the Staten Island Motor Lodge on Hylan Boulevard, will house migrants in 32 units. According to emails from the City, both shelters opened on May 4, 2023, and will be directly run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“Today we learned that Staten Island is getting another major influx of migrants, filling up an additional 67 units in two local hotels. As Mayor Adams has said, this crisis is unsustainable and is destroying our city. So long as the City is forced to continue spending taxpayer dollars to harbor illegal immigrants while cutting services for our own citizens in need, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. It currently costs taxpayers $93,000 for each family housed in these units, which is more than many Staten Islanders make in one year. New York City’s right-to-shelter policy was meant for homeless New Yorkers, not citizens of other countries coming here seeking asylum. By housing thousands of migrants under this policy, the City is abusing its original interpretation at the expense of hard-working taxpayers who never asked to carry the burden. It’s past time for the City to challenge the right to shelter decree and join our calls to secure the border and stop illegal crossings.”
Congresswoman Malliotakis is a cosponsor of H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, legislation that would require DHS to resume construction of the southern border wall, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, reform the asylum process and mandate the use of E-Verify, and prohibit the release of illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border into the United States.
Banner Image: Migrant Crisis. Image Credit – Kajetan Sumila
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was sworn in on January 3, 2021 to represent Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 2, 2010, defeating a two-term incumbent. In the Assembly, she served as Minority Whip and the ranking minority member of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees. For five terms, Congresswoman Malliotakis fought to restore ethics in Albany, expand transit service in her district, improve programs for senior citizens, reform education and improve New York’s economic climate by reducing the tax burden on small businesses and residents. A cornerstone of her tenure was helping her community recover and rebuild following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In addition to advocating for these same issues in Washington, Congresswoman Malliotakis is acutely focused on securing New York’s fair share of federal mass transit funding, which would go towards expanding transportation services and easing traffic congestion, while also championing public safety by supporting our nation’s law enforcement officers. Congresswoman Malliotakis is the daughter of immigrants, her father from Greece and her mother a Cuban exile of the Castro dictatorship. She is currently the only Republican member representing New York City in Congress, representing a district spanning the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. She is a passionate advocate for animal rights and the strengthening of animal cruelty laws, and in her spare time, enjoys spending time with her chihuahua, Peanut.