Advocacy groups warn that the site could become a target under President-elect Donald J. Trump’s administration, prompting urgent calls for Mayor Eric Adams to relocate the families to safer accommodations before the inauguration to mitigate the risk of federal enforcement actions as part of Trump’s proposed mass deportation initiative.
A Highly Vulnerable Shelter
Established in late 2023 in response to an overwhelming influx of migrants arriving at the southern border, Floyd Bennett Field was meant to be a temporary solution. Located within the Gateway National Recreation Area, it’s unique among other New York City emergency shelters for its location on a former naval air station on federal property, managed by the National Park Service.
The site currently houses families in large tents and residents come from a variety of backgrounds. Including Venezuela, Ecuador, Haiti, Guinea, and China, most of them fleeing economic and political turmoil. The conditions, however, have been widely criticized. Families share communal bathrooms and showers, while the tents, subdivided into individual spaces, offer limited protection against the elements. Additionally, the area is secluded, miles away from services like schools, and it’s prone to flooding, storms, and winds.
The Threat of Federal Action Looming Overhead
Concerns about the fate of Floyd Bennett Field have intensified following reports that the Trump administration may set its sights on it. Venezuelan-American Susie Jaramillo, artist, storyteller, and entrepreneur, is a Brooklyn resident and a founding member of the mutual aid group Floyd Bennett Field Neighbors (FBFN), which focuses on supporting the asylum-seeking families in this shelter, warns that it’s time to pressure the Adams administration to shut FBF down and start relocating families to shelters with more capacity.
Luz Media reached out to FBFN via email and connected with Jaramillo to discuss the efforts they’re making for these asylum-seeking families. “Mayor Adams must urgently close Floyd Bennett Field, a federal land shelter housing 2,000 asylum-seeking families in NYC, before January 20 to protect vulnerable residents from potential federal raids and relocate them to safer accommodations, upholding the city's legacy as a refuge or risk devastating trauma on hundreds of families, betraying our roots as a sanctuary city and detonating a powder keg of conflicts in NYC,” she stated.
The shelter’s location on federal land leaves it particularly vulnerable to actions by federal authorities. Unlike city or state-run shelters, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could act on-site without requiring cooperation from local authorities. Advocates worry that the shelter could become the site of mass ICE raids or be repurposed as a detention center. Republican officials have already expressed interest in terminating the site’s lease, which was recently extended through September 2025, and it includes a provision allowing for cancellation with 90 days’ notice by the city or the National Parks Service.
How the Community Is Taking Action
Community organizations have stepped up to address the critical needs of families at FBF, creating a lifeline for residents in a precarious situation. Floyd Bennett Field Neighbors is one such group providing on-the-ground support. They have mobilized an extensive network of volunteers and resources to address immediate needs and improve living conditions for the shelter's residents.
Since November 2023, FBFN has provided essential supplies to over 700 families. These include warm winter clothing, shoes, strollers, backpacks, toys, and other necessities through donations and their continually updated Target and Amazon wish lists. FBFN has also played a pivotal role in fostering communication within the shelter by establishing the largest internal communication network at the facility, enabling residents to share vital information and connect with one another.
FBFN's efforts are not limited to direct aid. They also collaborate with the Mayor's Office, NYC Health & Hospitals—the agency overseeing the shelter—and other local NGOs and mutual aid groups to help families access essential services and support. Equally as important, they’re pushing for systemic change along with other groups by urging Mayor Eric Adams to close Floyd Bennett Field and relocate families to safer, more permanent shelters across the city.
“The number of arriving asylum seekers has also been dropping for months, and there is more capacity to move Floyd Bennett families into other shelters and hotels. Most of the families at FBF have applied for asylum, and many parents have received their work permits. They are eager to find apartments or rooms to rent and to leave the shelter system,” Jaramillo shared with Luz Media.
By facilitating their relocation, the city can both provide immediate relief and support families in achieving long-term stability. “Beyond relocation, the City and State can pass a number of policies to make sure Floyd Bennett families and all immigrants in New York feel welcome and have the support they need to thrive in their new home. These could include expanding English classes and legal services to help new immigrants quickly gain the freedom to work, allowing more asylum seekers to fill unfilled positions in City and State government, and making health insurance accessible to undocumented New Yorkers,” Jaramillo added.
What Lies Ahead
The uncertainty surrounding the Floyd Bennett Field Shelter is just one example of the broader challenges in the national immigration debate. Despite a slowdown in new arrivals, the city still shelters more than 56,000 migrants, as reported by Fox 5 New York. As the city continues to accommodate tens of thousands of migrants, resources are stretched thin. Advocates argue that federal support is critical, not only in funding but also in policy reforms that streamline the asylum process and provide sustainable solutions.
“Asylum seekers at Floyd Bennett and around the city want the same thing as immigrants to our city have sought for generations: a chance to build a better life for themselves and their families. These families have braved unimaginable hardship and suffering to come to New York. We owe it to these families to give them the tools to get on their feet and begin contributing to our city,” Jaramillo stated.
The future of Floyd Bennett Field and its residents hangs in the balance. While city officials have signaled their intention to close large-scale shelters, no concrete plans have been announced yet. This silence has left advocates and residents on edge, particularly as the January inauguration of the new federal administration approaches.
As New York City grapples with the immediate challenges, Floyd Bennett Field Neighbors continues to advocate for humane solutions. “The time for decisive action is now. We must call for Mayor Adams to close Floyd Bennett Field before January 20 to safeguard these families, uphold New York’s legacy as a sanctuary, and stop a preventable humanitarian and social crisis,” Jaramillo concluded.
For the families living in these tents, the stakes are clear: their shelter is more than a temporary address—it’s a last shred of stability at a deeply uncertain time in their lives.
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