NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Protesters disrupted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats during a press conference on New York City’s migrant crisis Friday morning, shouting "Close the border!" and other remarks.
The protesters stood in front of the Roosevelt Hotel mega shelter, located on East 45th Street in midtown Manhattan, drowning out the Democrats as they addressed the city’s asylum-seeking crisis.
The visit came after Mayor Eric Adams pleaded for federal assistance. The Democratic members were there to tour the shelter, which houses more than 800 migrant families.
Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of Queens and the Bronx, said a three prompt strategy includes getting more federal aid, allowing migrants to work legally right away and expanding temporary protected status for Venezuelans.
“They are prevented from employment and that is part of the strain on our public system,” Ocasio-Cortez said.” The faster that folks can access the work they are asking for, legally, the better we can solve this problem.”
As the shouts grew louder, Rep. Adriano Espaillat raised his voice, expressing his commitment to finding solutions.
“The American dream will not be bullied into submission today,” Adriano Espaillat said. “We will continue to fight for the American dream.”
New York City now hosts more than 110,000 asylum seekers from the southern border.