Malliotakis Leads Bipartisan Call to Stop Any Plans for Fort Wadsworth Migrant Shelter

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today joined a bipartisan group of local elected officials to renew calls for the Biden Administration, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams to drop any plans to use Staten Island's Fort Wadsworth as a migrant shelter.

Last week, Malliotakis led a bipartisan letter signed by every elected official on Staten Island to the Biden Administration, Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams condemning the proposal after a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "assessment team" was recently spotted reviewing the park.

"Fort Wadsworth is a historic gem cherished by the Staten Island community and utilized by our brave U.S. Coast Guard service members and U.S. Park Police for both housing and operations. It also houses a food pantry for service members and veterans who certainly should be prioritized over citizens of other countries," Malliotakis said. "Any plan to house thousands of migrants here would cause irreparable damage to not only the physical condition of this park, but decimate local tourism and impact public safety in the surrounding community. This plan cannot move forward and we stand united and ready to fight tooth and nail to ensure it doesn’t."

At today's press conference, Malliotakis unveiled new legislation to prevent the city, state and federal government from placing a migrant shelter at Fort Wadsworth, one of the oldest military installations in the U.S. that currently serves as a domicile and an operational base for members of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Park Police. Malliotakis' legislation would prohibit the use of any funds to house migrants on any lander under the jurisdiction of the federal land management agencies specifically National Park Land, Bureau of Land Management, United States Fish and Wildlife and National Forest land from being used to house citizens of other countries. Her legislation would also prevent and federal land management agency from leasing, contracting, or entering agreements to house migrant populations.

Malliotakis added: "I'm announcing new legislation today to prevent government from moving forward with this plan so we can protect our historic park land and all federal lands from the crisis at the southern border and pushing back on the Biden Administration's attempts to force New York City residents to foot the bill for a crisis they singlehandedly created. Instead of incentivizing illegal migration with free housing and healthcare, the Mayor should stop misinterpreting New York City's 'Right to Shelter' law and the Senate should take up House Republicans' border security bill to stop the flow at our southern border once and for all." 

MALLIOTAKIS’ BILL ALREADY HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM ELECTED LEADERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE VERRAZZANO BRIDGE:

Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella: "Active military families, many of them young families and many on low salaries, live on Fort Wadsworth. Food pantries and organizations like Blue Star Families, which a year ago we helped raise money for, actively support these families because they struggle to get by. It is unconscionable that the city is, without hesitation, spending billions to accommodate asylum seekers, potentially placing them on the grounds of Fort Wadsworth, while these military families don't have enough money to feed and clothe their children."

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon: "As Staten Island’s highest ranking law enforcement official, the safety of all our residents and visitors will always be my highest priority, and that includes the thousands who live, work, and play inside the bucolic grounds of Fort Wadsworth all year round. That is why the potential housing of an unknown number of migrants inside this Staten Island landmark for an indefinite period of time, on the front lawn of those who bravely serve in our armed forces and alongside schoolchildren and families enjoying the history and serenity of this special place, must not come to pass. Housing these individuals here, in a relatively isolated residential neighborhood with extremely limited access to grocery stores, medical care, employment centers, transportation hubs, and other essential needs, puts them in an untenable environment with little potential for success. The brave men and women of the NYPD are already stretched thin and understaffed on Staten Island, as are their colleagues in the National Park Police, so creating an environment where a vulnerable population is expected to survive in a resource desert, inevitably creates conditions that will make their incredibly difficult jobs that much harder. I thank my colleagues in government for their advocacy on behalf of the safety and well-being of the hard-working men and women of our beloved borough, and proudly stand alongside them in opposing this proposal.”

Senator Andrew Lanza: "President Biden and his leftist Democrat Party refused to close the border as part of their mission to undue the principles for which America stands. Meanwhile, Governor Hochul and New York City Democrats have declared New York State and New York City a sanctuary for those who unlawfully enter our country -which is to say that New York Democrats are intentionally obstructing federal law enforcement agencies from enforcing American law here in New York. We oppose using this Revolutionary War landmark to house unlawful immigrants at taxpayers' expense. New York Democrats say we “lack compassion” however, it is not compassionate to tell hard working Staten Islanders who are barely making ends meet that they must pay to house those from other nations. At the same time, Democrat policies in New York have led to higher crime, out of control prices for food, clothing and electricity. Enough is enough! President Biden, Governor Hochul and the Democrat Party must secure our border! I commend Congresswoman Malliotakis for introducing this legislation to protect our U.S park lands and stand with her in defense of our citizens especially our military families and veterans.”

Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton: "Coming from a military family, I personally know how important it is for service members and their families to have a place to call home. Using Fort Wadsworth as a migrant shelter shows a total disregard to how important that is to our military community. Moreover, the lack of consultation with the elected officials disregards the importance of community input and engagement here on Staten Island which is incredibly irresponsible. I urge all involved in placing the migrants at Fort Wadsworth to reconsider this decision." 

Councilman Joe Borelli: "We have given away our hotels, streets, nursing homes and now our parks. The message is, and has always been, for us to shut up and accept it. This cannot go on forever, and shame on anyone who is trying to make sure it does."

Councilman David Carr: “If the Biden Administration decides to place migrants in Fort Wadsworth, I have no doubt it will only be the beginning of a laundry list of crackpot ideas to fix a symptom rather than the root cause of this issue: the President’s negligence to secure the border. Attempts to house these migrants in any and all available space in the city only feeds the crisis more.”

Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks: "Ft. Wadsworth is a significant landmark that houses military service members and their families. It is a base of operations for the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S Park Police. It is a meaningful and historic destination for Staten Islanders to enjoy recreational activity, including field trips for school children. It is wholly inappropriate to house migrants at this site. I join my colleagues in government in calling on the administration to re-evaluate this decision."

Councilwoman Joann Ariola: “I am proud to support this bill and extend thanks to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis for never wavering and always standing for what’s right. Your bill will end the city, state and federal government’s ability to willfully commit taxpayer dollars to house illegal migrants in our historic National Parks. To do so is not just a reckless misuse of taxpayer money, it is an egregious breach of trust by the people who have been charged with protecting these historic sites, and the safety and well-being of U.S. citizens.”

Councilman Ari Kagan: “I support Rep. Malliotakis’ actions and believe this bill is essential. Our National Parks have been touted by many as one of Americas “best ideas.” They are intended to be enjoyed by children, seniors, families, and guests from all over the world. Our duty is to preserve landscapes, the habitats, and species within them across the country—not build tent cities.”

Assemblyman Charles Fall: "Fort Wadsworth is a historic landmark on Staten Island, seeing visits from residents and tourists annually. It is also used for US Army Reserve training as well as housing members of the US Coast Guard. The mismanagement of this crisis has led our communities to face the possible reality of this base being used as a migrant shelter, even though it violates federal protections of national historic landmarks. This crisis is quickly reaching its breaking point pushing shelters to record levels and stretching services past capacity. A decompression strategy is needed now more than ever across the city and state, with logistical and financial assistance from the federal government as well as the city and state working in unison." -Assemblymember Charles D. Fall 

Assemblyman Michael Tannousis: “New York has fallen victim to a serious migrant crisis fueled by a lack of planning and resources and as a result, New Yorkers are taking the brunt of the massive influx. I want to commend Congresswoman Malliotakis for taking the much-needed lead on a plan of action with her legislation to protect our U.S. military and parkland from being used to house migrants. This common-sense measure should be implemented quickly to bring security back to our city and state and put New Yorkers first once again.”

Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo: “How can we consider using Fort Wadsworth, an active federal military installation, to house and support migrants when our own service members, veterans, senior citizens, homeless, and mentally ill citizens are denied support daily? In addition to NYC taxpayers footing a bill that costs more than the annual budgets of the Fire, Sanitation, Veterans Affairs, Parks, and Health Departments combined, they are now being forced to give up a beloved landmark here on Staten Island. This self-inflicted crisis is worsening every day and our leaders who hold the power to stop it are willfully asleep at the wheel. I applaud Congresswoman Malliotakis’ leadership and legislation which will prevent this disgraceful misuse of a federal institution from taking place here or anywhere else in the United States ever again.”

Assemblywoman Jamie Williams: “I represent a caring community, and while not unsympathetic to the humanitarian crisis at hand, the impact of placing thousands of people in an area of Gateway National Park, with no significant resources would be disastrous. Our National Parks need to be protected, and I wholeheartedly support the bill proposed by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis ensuring that they’re protected.” 

Assemblyman Michael Reilly: "I've maintained since this crisis first reached our shores last year that Staten Islanders should not be forced to bear this burden -- we never declared ourselves a sanctuary city. My colleagues and I have conveyed this message to city and state officials for months, attempting to maintain an open line of communication so that we can keep our constituents informed. We had no warning about this latest shelter and were previously told that the site was not being considered. It is unacceptable how, time and again, these officials betrayed the trust of the community and local leaders. I am once again calling on Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul to get serious by demanding that President Joe Biden take action to remedy the crisis on our southern border."

Kenneth Spencer, Chairman of the US Park Police Fraternal Order of Police: “From a community policing perspective, the proposed migrant shelters at Floyd Bennett Field and Fort Wadsworth are terribly dangerous and irresponsible ideas. The legislation by Congresswoman Malliotakis puts an end to this conversation in a way that protects Staten Island and Brooklyn and recognizes the staffing limits of a long neglected US Park Police.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MALLIOTAKIS’ PRESS CONFERENCE.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MALLIOTAKIS’ LEGISLATION.

Malliotakis is a cosponsor of H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, legislation House Republicans passed in May that would require DHS to resume construction of the southern border wall, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, reform the asylum process and mandate the use of E-Verify, and prohibit the release of illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border into the United States.