A section of Queens, New York has become an illegal vending area on the sidewalk, according to local business owners and media reports.
Vendors are reportedly selling goods obtained through shoplifting from area stores at discounted prices.
Prostitution is also occurring.
One pharmacy manager said the sidewalk is so crowded on Saturdays that customers cannot enter.
While police make some arrests, the vendors quickly return.
Residents criticized the situation, with some blaming the city’s sanctuary policies.
“NY voted for it. They are now receiving it,” one X user wrote.
“NYC block looks like a democrats heaven,” another wrote.
Earlier reports found fake ID documents like green cards and Social Security cards being sold to migrants.
Experts warn these enable criminal activity.
“Once people have these fake cards, they can work, they can travel, they can access a lot of aspects and services in the United States,” said Roy Fenoff, associate professor at the Department of Criminal Justice at the Citadel. “There are people getting these cards that are not here just to get a job, that they have other intentions, and this helps them carry out criminal activity.”
As his approval rating fell, NYC Mayor Adams pledged budget cuts to afford waves of illegal immigration.
A security guard said the vendors have lookouts and are training others, hurting local businesses through increased shoplifting.
“They have lookouts, you know, people to yell so they can pick up and leave when police come. I am catching a lot, a lot of them stealing. I caught 20 people last week. Twenty in one week. They are hurting business,” security guard Francisco O’Porta said.