This legislation would block shelters for those entering the country illegally on U.S. military bases, like Fort Hamilton

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Military bases like Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton would be denied funding for migrant shelters if legislation, introduced by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), becomes law.

The bill, which Malliotakis introduced with Rep. John Carter (R-Tx.) on Thursday, would block federal money from being used to house immigrants not lawfully admitted to the U.S.

As New York City deals with the ongoing migrant crisis, sites around the city have been used or proposed to be used to house the new arrivals.

“Protecting the safety of our residents and our national security should be a top priority for every elected official from the local level all the way up to President Biden,” Malliotakis said. “Allowing unvetted migrants from all over the world to be placed on our military installations would not only cause irreparable damage to the sites themselves, but jeopardize the critical national security operations underway to keep our citizens safe. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to prohibit federal funds from being used to house migrants on our military bases and federal park land so we can prioritize the safety and security of American citizens - something Democrats are refusing to do.”

Since April 2022 more than 110,000 migrants have made their way to the five boroughs, and the almost-60,000 still in the city’s care have prompted Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to set up more than 200 emergency migrant shelters.

Adams and members of his administration have identified the new arrivals as “asylum seekers” throughout the crisis, and Malliotakis’ legislation would not apply to shelters housing people given that legal status.

Previously, Malliotakis said she would introduce legislation to prohibit national parks from being used to provide migrant housing like Staten Island’s Fort Wadsworth.

Borough President Vito Fossella, State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn), Assemblyman Michael Reilly (R-South Shore), Assemblyman Michael Tannosis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo (R-Mid-Island), City Councilman Jospeh Borelli (R-South Shore), and City Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island) joined Malliotakis at a press conference on Aug. 23 to voice their opposition to a shelter possibly coming to the location.

Adams said recently that he doesn’t see an end in site for the crisis that he has said will cost the city an estimated $12 billion in the coming months.

“I’m gonna tell you something, New Yorkers, never in my life have I had a problem that I didn’t see an ending to. I don’t see an ending to this,” he said during a Manhattan town hall. “This issue will destroy New York City. Destroy New York City.”

The mayor has since tried to walk back that statement saying it had been misinterpreted. During a Sunday radio appearance, the mayor said he was referring to the financial impact as the thing that would destroy New York City.

On Monday, Malliotakis joined Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) and other elected officials to tour Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field, which Adams announced as a forthcoming migrant shelter on Friday.

“New York City has entered into a lease agreement with the federal government that allows us to use Floyd Bennett field as an emergency site to shelter some of the more than 113,300 asylum seekers who have sought our care since the spring of 2022,” he said. “I want to thank Governor [Kathy] Hochul for her commitment to reimbursing New York City fully for the use of this site, and I’m looking forward to further partnerships with our friends in Albany as we manage this ongoing crisis.”

Throughout its history, Floyd Bennett Field has served as a municipal airport and naval air station, but now serves as a park for recreation activities like camping, biking and sports.

Ariola vowed to bring litigation seeking to block the use of the site as a shelter, similar to the ongoing lawsuit seeking to block the shelter at the former St. John Villa Academy.

On Thusday, Supreme Court Judge Wayne Ozzi said he would make a decision regarding that shelter after hearing arguments from its opponents and the city. The judge has yet to do so.