The Randall’s Island migrant shelter has become a hotbed for violence raising concerns among both residents and officials. For many migrants, including Boubacar Deallo from Guinea, life there is anything but safe.

“There are always fights, always killing, always hell, inside and out,” Deallo said, describing the harsh conditions.

Deallo, who has been at the shelter for seven months, says that the environment has been plagued by criminal activity. He hopes to leave the shelter once he secures his asylum documents, stating, “When I get my documents, I’d like to work to leave this place. This place is no good… too much criminal people.”

The violence at the shelter has not gone unnoticed by authorities. On Sunday, a 26-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen at Field 82. He is currently in stable condition at Harlem Hospital, but the NYPD is still searching for the suspect. This incident follows a shooting last month at Field 71, in which a 44-year-old woman was killed and two others were injured.

In response to these incidents, the NYPD conducted a search operation at the shelter to ensure that no contraband was inside. Kaz Daughtry, NYPD commissioner of operations, acknowledged the ongoing challenges during a news conference last month. “We do receive a lot of community complaints in regards to the quality of life that is on this island,” said Daughtry.

Vendors line the entrance outside the shelter, selling everything from food to haircuts. However, many migrants live in tents scattered across the park’s grounds due to their lack of asylum paperwork.

Mayor Eric Adams' office addressed the concerns, emphasizing that while most migrants in New York are seeking a better life, a small number are disrupting the community with violent behavior.

Despite the challenges, Deallo remains focused on his goal. “I’m running from my country to be here, to find my way, and helping myself,” he said.

By Monday afternoon NYC Parks Enforcement and the NYPD was seen shutting down the vendors outside the shelter. While the Adams administration did not directly address the issue of tents on the island, they noted that 68% of the more than 211,000 people who have entered the city’s intake system since 2022 have moved on to the next step in their journey.