New York City, once the gateway to the United States via Ellis Island, is now full, but the flow of migrants seeking a better life continues.

Dozens of asylum seekers, mostly from West Africans, sleep on sidewalks outside a Manhattan hotel, waiting to settle their status in a makeshift centre after long perilous journeys fleeing their country.

Asylum seekers are still looking for housing in the city built by migrants two weeks after Mayor Eric Adams declared there was "no place" in the city after buses loaded with migrants from other US states arrived, saying the situation was going to get worse.

After his remarks in late July encouraging immigrants to move to other cities, Adams was accused of violating the city's laws on the right to shelter and of the spirit of New York embodied in the Statue of Liberty, which has long welcomed newcomers by sea.

Abdoulaye Diallo, one of those migrants waiting outside the Roosevelt Hotel, arrived in his "city of dreams" after a two-week journey from his native Mauritania, Turkey and Nicaragua, before crossing the Mexican border into the United States.

Diallo, 25, said the trip cost him $8,<> and that he made it in search of "democracy" and "respect."

Among the migrants were Senegalese nationals, some of whom said they slept on cardboard in front of shop windows for five days waiting to be transferred to shelters.

During last week's heatwave, volunteers distributed water and food to migrants whose sidewalks have become shelter.

Since April 2022, more than 93,<> migrants, mostly from Central and South America, have arrived in New York, which is legally obliged to provide free accommodation to anyone who requests it.

The influx came after Republican-led states such as Texas sent immigrants to Democratic states to protest President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

About 106,54 people, including about <>,<> immigrants, currently live in New York City, either in shelters or hotels, officials said.

Last month, Adams announced that authorities would distribute leaflets at the U.S.-Mexico border stating that it was "not guaranteed" that they would be sheltered in New York and that they should "consider" going to another city.

Immigrants who arrived in New York are mostly from West African countries (French)

Double suffering

Adams has sought a solution with federal authorities that includes more border controls and federal assistance to deal with the wave of immigration, and is demanding that federal authorities speed up the approval of work permits for new arrivals.

New York City has long been a haven for immigrants, but Adams, a Democrat, is trying to gradually reduce the number of new arrivals.

His administration now prioritizes free housing for families with children, while single men must reapply for housing after 60 days.

An official at the agency, which manages a large portion of migrant accommodations, said recently: "Our sympathy is limitless, but the space is not."

While Adams blamed federal and state governments for not providing enough assistance, Mauritanian refugee Diallo is still waiting for a home to support himself, he says he wants only "the necessary means to support himself".

"We crossed a lot of countries to get here. We have suffered. We came here because we trust this country. We trust the United States."