On Thursday, August 15th, independent journalist and photographer Leeroy Levy provided an in-depth account of his work documenting the ongoing migrant crisis in New York City during a revealing interview with The Voice News.
Levy, who operates under the social media handle Viral News NYC, has gained national and international attention for his fearless, unfiltered reporting. Through his words and actions, Levy has become a central figure in exposing the complexities and often overlooked aspects of the migrant crisis.
Levy began by introducing himself, emphasizing his independence. “I am an independent photographer and investigative reporter in New York City,” he explained. “I don’t work for any mainstream media or any companies. I am my own boss. I don’t have any editors. I don’t have any printers. It’s just me alone showing the truth.” Levy’s commitment to presenting the truth, no matter who it affects, has made him a trusted and respected figure in the field. “Whatever is the truth is the truth. I stick with it. I don’t care who likes it or who doesn’t like it.”
As a native New Yorker, Levy’s deep knowledge of the city has been crucial to his reporting. He shared how his instincts and street smarts guide him in his work. “I feel for things. It’s not something you can learn in school. It’s something you learn on the streets,” Levy said. He added, “Sometimes we get that spider-sense in our stomach telling us to go someplace. And I do it, and I listen to my senses.” This intuition, combined with a network of trusted sources, has allowed Levy to be on the front lines, often arriving at scenes before anyone else.
Levy’s work has gained widespread attention, particularly for his coverage of the migrant crisis as it unfolded in New York City. When the first buses started coming. Levy’s videos and photographs appeared in newspapers and outlets all over the world. Levy described how he was initially shocked by the scale of the influx. “In the beginning, I thought, all right, we’re helping people, this is nice. But after the buses kept rolling in, rolling in, rolling in, I’m like, this is crazy.” He emphasized that the crisis extended beyond what was being reported. “Joe Biden sent us more, triple quadruple, a thousand times more migrants than Governor Abbott.”
Levy’s unique approach to journalism has allowed him to build trust with the migrants he documents. “I’ve bought them food, I’ve seen them hungry…I don’t think they’re bad people,” he said. This relationship-building has been key to his ability to report from inside shelters and other locations that are often inaccessible to the media. Levy recounted how some migrants even trusted him enough to send him footage from inside the shelters. “Being a reporter is…building relationships and being honest, not spinning the truth,” he explained.
However, Levy’s reporting has also exposed darker aspects of the crisis, particularly the rise of migrant gangs in the city. His recent work has highlighted the involvement of young migrants, some as young as 10 or 11, in violent criminal activities. “These are dangerous people…I’ve literally seen them slice people up,” Levy said, describing the brutal reality of these young gang members. His coverage of these incidents has been pivotal in bringing attention to the escalating violence and has led to increased police presence in areas like Central Park.
Levy also uncovered alarming instances of child trafficking within the migrant community. He described how children are being recycled among different “families” to secure more rooms in shelters, a practice he bluntly labeled as “child trafficking 101.” Levy’s findings raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of the city’s oversight of these shelters and the welfare of the children involved. “Some of the staff members tell us, look, some of these kids look nothing like their parents…They recycle the kids to get more rooms,” he revealed.
Despite the risks involved, Levy remains committed to his work. “When you’re covering crime and when you’re covering gang activity, you put a target on your back,” he acknowledged. Yet, this does not deter him. Levy’s dedication to exposing the truth, no matter the personal cost, has made him an indispensable resource for understanding the full scope of the migrant crisis in New York City.
Leeroy Levy’s fearless reporting sheds light on the harsh realities of the migrant crisis in New York City. His ability to navigate the complexities of the situation, combined with his unwavering commitment to the truth, has made him a vital voice in the ongoing debate. As the crisis continues to unfold, Levy’s work will undoubtedly remain at the forefront, challenging both the public and policymakers to confront the difficult truths that lie beneath the surface.
