By: Sophie Ma

Johnson Coronel and his brother moved out of Venezuela in hopes of escaping the government violence. They were repeatedly moved from one asylum to another.

At first, they asked for asylum on the Texas border, and lived in both Brownsville and San Antonio, though they quickly realized there was no room. The two were then moved to a New York Shelter which proved to be no better. When they were told that Albany would have more space, Coronel jumped on the opportunity.

“The situation in Venezuela has gotten impossible.” Coronel says, “You can’t walk down the street without a government official shaking you down for money every couple of blocks.” He and his brother only want to find a place to live and work in peace.

However, many people are having the same thoughts. 60,000 migrants have come to New York in search of shelter over the past year. The shelters claimed to be overwhelmed and began sending them to nearby shelters. Many places have become increasingly hostile toward migrants, though Albany has continued to accept them.

“They’re all sanctuary cities until they have to be sanctuary cities,” Says Peter Crummey, a town supervisor of Colonie and a Republican.

Another issue that comes from taking in thousands of migrants is the increased lack of resources. The cost of taking in migrants is high, and the U.S. economy isn’t great currently.

“We can’t afford it,” Gerome Anthony says. And though he feels sympathetic towards the migrants seeking asylum in his area, he says “it’s a safety issue. We don’t know who these people are.”

And not only is the cost high for taking in migrants, once they settle down in the local towns the people there aren’t always welcome them.

“But then what happens to them once they try to assimilate into this local area that’s not really friendly to them at all?” Dan Irizzary says, a Chairman of Capitol District Latinos.

Many migrants find themselves in a place much like Coronel, living in a shelter without income, in a sanctuary city surrounded by hostile people. As the government and officials try to find a way for all to maintain a peaceful life.