The Muslim Community Center (MCC), operating in the Brooklyn area of New York, is trying to accommodate the irregular migrants sent to the city from the border by its own means.
MCC Executive Director Soniya Ali, who gave information about the work for irregular immigrants, first explained that she came to the USA from Kashmir as an immigrant when she was 5 years old.
Stating that MCC opened its doors to irregular migrants coming to the city, Ali said, "We have been hosting immigrants here since August. People from Venezuela, Senegal, Egypt, Turkey, from different parts of the world, with different backgrounds stay here. We try to help them by opening our doors."
Stating that MCC had tried to help the needy before the immigration problem, Ali said that with the influx of irregular immigrants to New York, they turned the women's mosque in the building into a shelter.
Ali said that they currently host 17 irregular migrants in the area with a small kitchen, bathroom and toilet, and they have hosted more than 75 migrants since August.
Noting that 1-2 Muslim centers in New York are trying to help more irregular immigrants in their accommodation, Ali also noted that some churches are also interested in irregular immigrants in legal proceedings, if not as housing.
"This happened on our own initiative. We are working with several other community organizations and houses of worship to alleviate some of the problems the city has. But we're also trying to be one of 50 places of worship that we hope the city will start funding soon," Ali added.
Emphasizing that they have not had any problems with irregular migrants so far, Ali emphasized that members of the MCC society are also trying to provide material and moral support to this problem,
"Right now we're just trying to save the day because we're not funded by the city. We are trying to get around this with our community members and sometimes with funding from our partner organisations," Ali stated.
Ali added that there is no time limit for the stay of immigrants in the shelter, and they can stay as long as they need and leave whenever they want.