New York Magazine’s latest cover story is a powerful photo portfolio accompanied by as-told-to interviews that spotlight the city’s campaign to relocate migrants, capturing the challenges faced by those waiting for shelter, attempting to secure employment, and searching for their next meal in a seemingly endless loop. The photographs, by Philip-Daniel Ducasse, depict migrants in line outside the former St. Brigid School in the East Village, with as-told-to interviews, by Jay Bulger and Paula Aceves, who spent a month in conversation with those who waited, often for two weeks at a time, in the bitter winter cold.
“As someone with a deeply personal connection to the immigrant experience, capturing the migrant crisis in New York City for New York Magazine was a journey that resonated profoundly with me,” said Ducasse. “Coming from a background of immigrant parents who fled Haiti during the Duvalier regime, the emotions were raw and palpable during the three days I spent immersed in this project. I found myself playing various roles, from translator to empathetic observer. What struck me most was the resilience and ambition of these individuals, driven by a desire to find meaningful work and build a better life. It was heartbreaking to witness their struggles, especially the inhumane treatment and the agonizing wait for work permits and shelter. It’s time to change the narrative surrounding immigrants and recognize their humanity, their stories of perseverance, and the systemic issues that drive them to seek refuge.”
Elsewhere in the issue, Piper French writes on the tragic, slow, and incomplete process of reuniting the more than 5,000 families who were separated at the border during Donald Trump’s presidency and continue to face roadblocks to their reunification today. And feature writer Rachel Handler explores how actors learn to cry on cue, speaking with Oprah’s acting coach, a soap star, a clown-class graduate, and others to see if she can do it too.