{"id":2071374,"date":"2023-10-18T07:52:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T11:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/protestors-declare-total-victory-as-staten-island-illegal-immigrant-shelter-shut-down\/"},"modified":"2023-10-18T07:55:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T11:55:49","slug":"protestors-declare-total-victory-as-staten-island-illegal-immigrant-shelter-shut-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/protestors-declare-total-victory-as-staten-island-illegal-immigrant-shelter-shut-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Protestors claim &#8216;total victory&#8217; as Staten Island illegal immigrant shelter closes."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fprotestors-declare-total-victory-as-staten-island-illegal-immigrant-shelter-shut-down%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2071374&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>An \u2064Illegal Immigrant Shelter in Staten \u200bIsland Shuts Down After \u200cControversy<\/h2>\n<p>An illegal immigrant shelter, located in a quiet Staten Island \u200cneighborhood, has been closed down \u200cfollowing\u200c a\u2064 wave of complaints from\u200b residents. The shuttered Catholic school,\u2064 known as Saint John&#8217;s \u200bVilla, became the center of controversy \u200cdue to reports of litter, foul odors, and an increase in crime.<\/p>\n<p>Mark Fonte, a lawyer representing Staten Island\u2063 residents in the fight against the shelter, expressed\u2064 his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, &#8220;This is\u200c a\u200d total and \u2062complete victory. The migrants have been bussed out\u200b and\u2064 the building is empty.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Fonte added, &#8220;They \u2064say you can&#8217;t fight\u200b City Hall, but right here we have a \u2062huge\u200d win for the people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/migrant-shelter-on-staten-island-closed-over-fire-code-violations-5511409?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">Migrant Shelter on Staten Island Closed Over Fire Code Violations<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/17\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/migrant-shelter-on-staten-island-closed-over-fire-code-violations-5511409?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n            <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/*\" https:><\/source>\n            <\/picture>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/staten-island-illegal-immigration-debate-gets-heated-as-group-accuses-protestors-of-attempting-insurrection-5499637?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">Staten Island Illegal Immigration Debate Gets \u200bHeated as Group Accuses Protestors of \u200bAttempting &#8216;Insurrection&#8217;<\/h3>\n<p>            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/27\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/staten-island-illegal-immigration-debate-gets-heated-as-group-accuses-protestors-of-attempting-insurrection-5499637?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n            <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/*\" https:><\/source>\n            <\/picture>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The closure of the \u2064Saint John&#8217;s Villa shelter came after an inspection by the New York Fire Department, \u200bwhich <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/protestors-declare-total-victory-as-staten-island-illegal-immigrant-shelter-shut-down\/\" title=\"Protestors claim 'total victory' as Staten Island illegal immigrant shelter closes.\">revealed unsafe living conditions<\/a>.\u200d Instead of addressing the issues, the department decided to close down\u2062 the \u2062entire building. Protestors believe that community pressure played a role in the closure and the removal of\u2062 the 200 illegal immigrants housed there.<\/p>\n<p>According to Fonte, &#8220;With\u2064 the amount of pressure that\u2063 was placed on the city through\u2064 the lawsuits and constant \u200drallies with elected officials, I can imagine that with all the migrants flooding the city, this small number just wasn&#8217;t worth it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">The\u200c use of the closed-down villa to house \u2063hundreds of migrants had sparked \u2064demonstrations and outrage among residents. As \u200cdozens of illegal\u200c immigrants were\u200b loaded onto buses and\u200d relocated, a crowd of Staten Island residents gathered outside the shelter,\u200b applauding and cheering, as captured \u2063in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ViralNewsNYC\/status\/1713931789775864132?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video posted \u200con X<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Lawyers representing Staten Island residents <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/anger-is-boiling-over-staten-island-residents-sue-over-illegal-immigration-shelter-5492311\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">had previously argued in court<\/a> for the closure of the shelter. \u200bThey claimed that besides lacking proper infrastructure, the\u2064 shelter&#8217;s use\u2063 of outdoor showers, which \u2062relied on generators running 24\/7, resulted in the \u200bpollution of the surrounding area with raw sewage runoff.<\/div>\n<p>Staten Island is grappling with the consequences of an \u2063increasing influx of\u200d illegal immigrants into New York City, the\u200c only sanctuary city in the state. The \u200bissue of\u200c where to\u2064 accommodate\u200b the growing \u2062number of \u200dillegal immigrants has become a contentious one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">In September, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/staten-island-illegal-immigration-debate-gets-heated-as-group-accuses-protestors-of-attempting-insurrection-5499637\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10\u200d arrests were made<\/a> after \u200cfrustrated residents of Staten Island took to the\u200d streets and physically blocked a bus carrying dozens of illegal immigrants to \u2063a residential school that had been converted into a shelter.<\/div>\n<p>La \u2064Colmena, a nonprofit organization working with\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/staten-island-illegal-immigration-debate-gets-heated-as-group-accuses-protestors-of-attempting-insurrection\/\" title=\"Staten Island immigration debate intensifies as group accuses protestors of 'insurrection'\">low-wage immigrant\u2062 workers<\/a>, \u200bcalled for \u200belected officials \u200dwho\u200d spoke out\u200b against \u200dthe influx of \u2062illegal immigrants into residential Staten Island neighborhoods \u2063to\u200b be held accountable. They compared their words to those attempting an\u200c insurrection in DC.<\/p>\n<p>The city of New York \u200bhas a legal obligation to provide housing \u200bfor all residents under the &#8220;right to shelter&#8221; law established \u2064in 1981. This law was the result of a lawsuit filed by homeless advocates, \u200band\u2064 the city agreed \u200dto provide shelter to anyone experiencing physical, mental,\u200c or social dysfunction.<\/p>\n<p>City officials claim that\u200b the estimated influx\u200c of 100,000 \u200billegal immigrants has strained resources and\u2064 services. Mayor Eric Adams has acknowledged that \u2064the city cannot\u200d sustain the numbers of new illegal immigrants, \u2064even by utilizing the outer boroughs,\u200c and has \u200dcalled on the\u2064 rest of\u2062 the state \u2063to help alleviate the burden. Staten Island officials \u2063argue \u200dthat the crisis\u200b is a consequence of\u200c the mayor designating New York City\u200b as a sanctuary city.<\/p>\n<p>Growing safety\u2062 concerns regarding\u200c the bussing of illegal immigrants into the \u2062outer boroughs have reignited efforts by Staten Island officials to \u200dsecede from New York City.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">&#8220;The people feel \u200dlike we \u2064are \u200con a tugboat attached to the Titanic,&#8221; said Staten Island Borough President \u200bVito Fossella in a previous interview with The Epoch Times. &#8220;The people can see that the city is sinking,\u200b and unless we are okay with sinking, too, there is a \u2063need\u200c to separate.&#8221;<\/div>\n<p>After weeks of protesting, residents of \u200dthe Staten Island neighborhood are hopeful that their fight to reclaim their community is finally over.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everyone is hoping for \u200cfinality,&#8221; said\u2062 Fonte. &#8220;But\u200b of course, there is always the specter that the fight will have to be\u2062 resumed again,\u2063 and if it does, \u200bthe people here are ready.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u200bHow did community action contribute to the closure of the\u2063 illegal immigrant shelter in Staten Island, and what impact\u2063 did it have on the surrounding community?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200c Illegal immigration has been a contentious issue \u2064in the\u2063 United States for many years,\u2063 and the recent closure of \u2063an illegal immigrant shelter in Staten Island \u200chas only added fuel to the fire. The shelter, located\u200b in a quiet neighborhood, had \u200dbeen a source of \u2063frustration \u2063for local residents, who complained of litter, foul odors, and an increase\u2062 in crime.<\/p>\n<p>The shelter, \u200bpreviously \u2062known as Saint John&#8217;s Villa,\u200d was operated by the Catholic Church and provided temporary housing \u2062for\u2064 illegal\u2064 immigrants while\u2063 their \u2064legal status was\u200d being processed. However, reports of unsanitary conditions and illegal activities quickly spread throughout the community, prompting residents to take action.<\/p>\n<p>Mark \u200bFonte,\u200b a \u200dlawyer \u200crepresenting Staten Island residents in their fight against the\u2062 shelter, expressed\u200d his satisfaction with the outcome. He stated, &#8220;This is a total and complete victory. The migrants\u2062 have been\u200b bussed out and the building is \u2064empty.&#8221; Fonte added, &#8220;They say\u200b you can&#8217;t fight City Hall, but \u2063right here \u200dwe have a huge win for the people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The closure of the shelter is an example\u2062 of the power of \u2064community action\u200d and \u2064highlights the importance of addressing concerns raised by residents. While the\u2064 shelter may have provided temporary\u200d relief for \u2063illegal immigrants,\u200c it also \u2063imposed an undue burden on the surrounding community.\u2064 It is crucial to strike\u200c a balance between compassion for those\u2064 in \u200dneed and maintaining the well-being\u2062 and safety \u200dof local\u2064 residents.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, the debate surrounding illegal immigration has become increasingly \u200dpolarized, with passionate arguments on both sides. This\u200d incident in Staten Island serves as a \u2064reminder that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-un-pick-urges-continued-u-s-presence-in-chinese-led-panels\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s UN pick urges continued U.S. presence in Chinese-led panels\">finding common ground<\/a> and working towards solutions\u2064 that benefit \u2062all parties involved is \u2063essential.<\/p>\n<p>While the closure of the shelter\u2064 may be seen as a victory for those opposed\u200c to illegal immigration, it is also a reminder\u200b of the larger issues \u200bat play. The\u200d United States immigration system is broken and in\u2064 dire need of comprehensive \u200breform. The closure of \u200done shelter does not address the \u2062root causes \u200cof\u200d illegal immigration or provide\u2062 a\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sexual-consent-app-idea-draws-criticism-in-australia\/\" title=\"Sexual Consent App Idea Draws Criticism In Australia\">long-term solution<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As the country continues to grapple \u200bwith the challenges posed by illegal immigration, it is crucial to approach the\u200b issue with empathy, compassion, and a commitment\u200c to \u200dfinding pragmatic \u2063solutions. By\u2062 focusing on\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-america-foreign-born-population-zoomed-to-record-high-46-million-census-report-shows\/\" title=\"Record high: 46 million foreign-born people in America, according to Census report.\">comprehensive immigration \u2062reform<\/a> that addresses the \u2062concerns of all stakeholders, we can\u2062 work towards a\u2063 system that is fair, just, and in the best interest of the entire nation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An illegal immigrant shelter in a quiet Staten Island neighborhood, housed in a closed Catholic school, has been closed due to resident complaints of litter, odors, and crime. Mark Fonte, the lawyer representing Staten Island, sees the shutdown as a significant triumph.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2342,"featured_media":2071375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2071374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2342"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2071374"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2071374\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2071375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2071374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2071374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2071374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}