Migrant Camp in Brooklyn Faces Serious Issues

In Brooklyn, a large migrant camp has been described as a “garbage dump” and poses fire risks. Emails reviewed indicate that officials from the Biden administration have dismissed appeals from state lawmakers and local leaders to address the situation.

About 2,000 immigrants were housed at Floyd Bennett Field from November 2023 until January 2025, when then-Mayor Eric Adams ultimately shut down what had turned into a rundown area within a national historic site.

Despite being aware of the safety concerns, officials from the National Park Service (NPS) reported that the camp was “clean and well-run,” as revealed by emails obtained from the Center for American Security Advancement.

Dean Kester, an assistant director at the FDNY, mentioned in a July 15, 2024 email that the situation was far from ideal. He added that the nearest operational fire hydrant was over 2,500 feet away, and if a fire broke out, getting a reliable water supply could take nearly 30 minutes.

Since the airfield became part of the Gateway National Recreation Area back in 1972, the fire hydrants there have not been properly maintained, and there are no sprinklers on the premises.

Moreover, Kester pointed out that the “maze-like” sleeping arrangements in the tents would make evacuation difficult in case of an emergency, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by those residing in the camps.

“The absence of fire protection equipment and the distant fire hydrants create a hazardous environment,” he cautioned.

James Fitzpatrick from the Center for the Advancement of American Security remarked on the wider implications of Biden’s immigration policies, stating they have adversely affected working-class families, especially in cities with large minority populations.

Public oversight efforts by CASA have uncovered documents showing that NPS officials continued to overcrowd the camp at Floyd Bennett Field, fully aware of its unsafety, which hindered law-abiding residents from utilizing the facility as intended.

Previously, NPS officials praised federal efforts in establishing the encampment. In a note dated January 9, 2024, Gateway National Recreation Area Superintendent Jen Narsesian described the camp as clean and well-organized, albeit with tight living conditions.

Additionally, there were complaints about asylum seekers soliciting in nearby neighborhoods, which led Democratic Rep. Jamie Williams to voice concerns in a letter to Adams, stating residents were fed up with the situation.

On the same day, Williams and other local officials signed a letter expressing worry that the parks were transforming into “garbage dumps,” deteriorating more quickly than expected.

Just two days after this letter, students at James Madison High School were sent home as migrants sought shelter in the school’s gym due to severe weather conditions.

It was noted that the camp at Floyd Bennett Field was established in August 2023 after discussions involving Adams, White House senior adviser Tom Perez, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

No comments were received from representatives of Williams, NPS, or Hochul’s office regarding these matters.