As New York City continues to deal with the influx of asylum seekers, officials report 53,000 migrants remain in the city’s care. And the efforts to find locations to place them continue.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards says that two sites in his borough, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center and the Aqueduct Racetrack, are being considered as potential sites for tent shelters.

“I got a late-night message from the administration on the possibilities of Aqueduct and Creedmoor, and we are waiting for more information. I believe there will be [tours] with state and city agencies in the upcoming days,” Richards said.

Residents near the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center say there has not necessarily been large opposition to other locations used as shelters in the surrounding neighborhoods.

However, they do have some concerns at this location, given there is limited access to public transportation.

“There is nothing here. There is absolutely no transportation. No stores,” said Oakland Gardens resident Arlene Schlesinger.

The city has already designated 180 emergency centers and 14 “Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers.” The most recent, announced less than a week ago, include Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York City and a center at 47 Hall Street in Clinton Hill.

“All of the sites present a lot of challenges because Queens is a transit desert. And then in terms of investments, we need to see, you know, we talk about school seats as we talk about ensuring that they have opportunities for workforce development. These are all things that need to be taken into account no matter where the site is at,” Richards said.

The Queens borough president echoed the sentiment from advocates that say more long-term solutions are needed, including help from the federal government, permanent housing and expedited working permits.

“A lot of them are working under the table at this point, you know? So how do we get them actual working papers so that they can be a part of the American Dream?” Richards said. “But the bottom line is we are in a housing crisis, so we don't want to see tent cities, in my opinion.”

When asked for comment on the tent shelters, a spokesperson for the mayor's office said that “all options are on the table as we deal with the crisis and no humanitarian relief centers are final until announced.”