NYC Council member Joann Ariola has spoken out against the idea of using National Parks as temporary housing facilities for asylum seekers. Ariola made her plea before the House Sub Committee on Federal Lands on Thursday, Oct. 19. She emphasized the importance of protecting public lands and cautioned against the partisan mismanagement of the southern border that has led to cities being overwhelmed with asylum seekers.
Ariola specifically endorsed H.R. 5283, also known as the "Trash Reduction And Suppressing Harm from Environmental Degradation (TRASHED) at the Border Act." This bill was one of the topics discussed during the legislative hearing, along with H.R. 1727 and two unnamed bills proposed by Representatives Tiffany and Westerman.
In her testimony, Ariola expressed concern that using National Parks as housing compounds for asylum seekers would effectively close the parks to the public. She quoted former President Barack Obama, saying, "It’s not just the iconic mountains and parks that we protect. It’s the forests where generations of families have hiked and picnicked and connected with nature."
Ariola also highlighted the impact such a move would have on local parks, specifically mentioning Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York. She emphasized that the field serves as a sanctuary for nearly one million visitors each year, who come for its meadows, fields, forests, and shorelines. Transforming the park into a housing compound would drastically change the space and impact recreational activities such as fishing and bird watching.
In her closing remarks, Ariola urged everyone to support H.R. 5283 and protect National Parks. She emphasized that these spaces were meant to be enjoyed by all and should not be compromised due to immigration issues occurring thousands of miles away. Ariola stated, "This is something that we should all be united against."
