Res. No. 381

Resolution condemning the human trafficking of migrants.

By Council Members Avilés, Cabán, Louis, Ayala, Hanif, Joseph, Riley and De La Rosa

Whereas, Fleeing violence, poverty and political persecution, a record number of families and individuals are seeking asylum in the United States; and

Whereas, Many migrants are arriving at the United States southern border where they are processed by the United Sates Immigration and Customer Enforcement Agency; and

Whereas, Once migrants seeking asylum in the United States go through an initial vetting process and are released they are free to travel throughout the United States; and

Whereas, In the past few months the Governors of several states have sent more than 20,000 migrants to New York City; and

Whereas, The United States Department of Justice defines human trafficking as “a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services…[t]he coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological”; and

Whereas, Many migrants have been lied to and coerced into coming to New York or other sanctuary cities; and

Whereas, Some of the migrants arriving in New York City from the southern border intended to go somewhere other than New York City; and

Whereas, Migrants are being enticed onto busses with the promise of social services, free food and even hotel stays; and

Whereas, Groups of migrants have been misled into believing they would be going to cities other than New York; and

Whereas, The Governors of Texas, Arizona and Florida have sent migrants to New York and other cities with the express purpose of embarrassing President Biden and the Democratic leadership of those cities; and

Whereas, The Governors of these states are attempting to earn political capital by transporting migrants to Democratic-led cities; and

Whereas, The Governors of the states that are sending migrants to New York City using deceptive tactics for the purposes of furthering their own political careers are engaging in a form of human trafficking; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York condemns the human trafficking of migrants.

LS #10794

10/17/22

EHC