Illegal immigrants say NYC is ‘chaos,’ not what they expected

The unprecedented influx of people allowed by President Joe Biden and Mayor Eric Adams has put a strain on the system, and as a result, new arrivals have faced tough times finding work, shelter, and other basic necessities of daily life. While the situation in the city is still, in most cases, a step up from that in their home countries, many migrants have become skeptical that things will work out for them in the land of the free.

"I thought of New York differently, but now I also see that New York is in chaos," a 48-year-old Ecuadorian woman who escaped violence in Ecuador with her husband and child told Yahoo News.

"In my country right now they are stealing, they are killing and there is no longer security, just desperation," she added. "We come to look for work ... We want at least to have stability to live."

Her sentiments were shared by many others who fled violence and oppression for a better life in the US only to find it nearly impossible to find a job.

In July, the city began circulating a flier encouraging migrants to stay away from the city. "There is no guarantee we will be able to provide shelter and services to new arrivals," it stated. "Please consider another city as you make your decision about where to settle in the US."

The desperate call has gone unheeded, as migrants continue arriving in New York at a pace of nearly 1,000 per day. There are an estimated 57,300 currently vying for spots in NYC's overcrowded shelter system.

"The city is running out of money, appropriate space, and personnel," Adams said recently. "The immigration system in this nation is broken. It has been broken for decades. Today, New York City has been left to pick up the pieces."