Mayor Eric Adams Announces the Relocation of Migrant Relief Center from Orchard Beach to Randall’s Island

On Monday, October 3rd, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the migrant relief center, currently under construction in the Bronx, will be relocated to Randall’s Island in Manhattan, citing flooding concerns in Orchard Beach.

Adams stated, “New York City Emergency Management determined that, while we would be able to put in place the necessary ponding mitigation measures, relocating the Orchard Beach humanitarian relief center to Randall’s Island is the most efficient and effective path forward, and work is underway to make this move.”

According to Adams, the new location on Randall’s Island will be located in the Icahn Stadium parking lot. 

The news of the relief center’s relocation was announced shortly after a protest held on Monday by community leaders and immigration advocates. In his announcement, Adams expressed that he anticipates this facility to open within the same time frame as scheduled for the previous location.

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The Adams administration has come under criticism for deciding to construct the center in an Orchard Beach parking lot, an area prone to flooding. Over the weekend, there was minor flooding at the encampment as a result of heavy rain due to remnants of Hurricane Ian. This, in conjunction with the protests that occurred all weekend, influenced Adams’s decision on moving the migrant relief center from Orchard Beach to Randall’s Island.

Mayor Adams has said, “We will continue to build out our options and explore additional sites as we handle this humanitarian crisis created by human hands.”

Since May, more than 16,000 asylum seekers have entered New York City. Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, sent the majority by bus from the southern border to alleviate the pressure on southern border towns.