EXCLUSIVE'Pets are treated better than us': Migrants who spent life savings traveling from Africa to NYC complain they've been 'sold a dream by Hollywood - but the American Dream isn't like the movies'

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Migrants who spent their life savings traveling from Africa to New York City have said they are 'the victims of the lies in the movies' after life in the Big Apple was not what they expected. 

Hundreds of homeless expats, mostly young and middle-aged African men, were waiting in line outside a church on East 7th Street in Manhattan's East Village on Thursday, hoping to find a place to sleep. 

Among them was Landry, 40, from Congo, who told DailyMail.com he spent his life savings of $9,000 traveling to the US, taking the difficult decision to leave his wife and 14-year-old son behind four months ago. 

The military veteran had been hoping to land a job in construction but he's been unable to find work in the city and ended up sleeping on the streets in sub-zero temperatures after shelters ran out of space. 

Conditions in Congo were 'terrible' according to Landry, with frequent fights between ethnic groups and oppressive laws - but he said life in the Big Apple has been 'even worse.'

Landry, 40, from Congo, told DailyMail.com he spent his life savings of $9,000 traveling to the United States, taking the difficult decision to leave his wife and 14-year-old son behind four months ago

Abdoulaye, from Guinea, said he spent $10,000 traveling through Turkey, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico and Texas on foot and by bus in pursuit of the American Dream

Friends Vivienna, 44, and Selena, 22, from Ecuador, were the only two women in the hundreds-strong queue on Thursday afternoon

The huge line outside St. Brigid School in the East Village where migrants wait for shelter and food

'It's like prison here,' he said, speaking in French. 'It's negligence. We have no access to food, toilets, or anything. Animals live better here - pets in the street are treated better than us.

'The UN building is right there to talk about the problems around the world but look at all this on the doorstep... desperation and lack of services.' 

'We were sold a dream in Hollywood films and TV, but the reality of life in New York City is not like the movies,' he said, adding that he had been bussed over from California. 

When asked how he felt thinking of his family back in Congo, Landry said: 'I cry and think, why did I do this? But it's too late. I spent my life savings coming here and now I can't get a job. What can I do?' 

Landry is trying to learn Spanish in the hopes of eventually securing a job at a Latino restaurant.  Many of the other migrants in the queue had similar stories. 

Abdoulaye, of Guinea, said he spent $10,000 traveling through Turkey, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico and Texas in pursuit of the American Dream. 

He told DailyMail.com he was given shelter for the first few weeks of his stay in NYC, but had been sleeping on the streets for the past few days. 

'After one month they can put you outside,' Abdoulaye said. 'Sleeping outside in the cold is too much. The situation is no good right now.'  

Friends Vivienna, 44, and Selena, 22, from Ecuador, were the only two women in the hundreds-strong queue on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking in Spanish, they said they fled 'danger' in the South American country, only to sleep on the streets in New York where they don't feel any safer. 

Landry is trying to learn Spanish in the hopes of eventually securing a job at a Latino restaurant. Many of the other migrants in the queue had similar stories

Two migrants from Venezuela line up for lunch in the East Village Thursday

A man from Ghana waits with other desperate migrants in Manhattan

Speaking in Spanish, Vivienna and Selena said they fled 'danger' in the South American country, only to sleep on the streets in New York where they don't feel any safe

Hundreds of homeless expats, mostly young and middle aged men from Africa, were waiting in line outside a church on East 7th Street in Manhattan's East Village on Thursday, hoping to find a place to sleep

Migrants in line on East 7th Street in Manhattan's East Village on Thursday 

Many of the migrants who come to NYC end up homeless as the city runs out of shelters 

A migrant wrapped up in a winter coat sits on steps in the East Village

The alarming scene underscores Mayor Eric Adams' own recent admission that NYC - proudly touted as a beacon of the Democrats' 'Sanctuary City' policy - is now at 'breaking point.'

More than 160,000 migrants have arrived in the city since the spring of 2022 and the crisis is only deepening as they continue to be bussed from Texas where record numbers are pouring over the border.

Some 300,000 breached the US-Mexico border in December - the highest monthly figure ever, while more than 785,000 have entered since October - marking the highest quarterly total on record.

Adams confessed to Fox 5's Rosanna Scotto earlier this week that, 'We're getting close to anywhere from 2,500 to peaking at 4,000 a week.'

'What happens when there's no more room?' Scotto asked at one point during the interview.

'We were not just saying we're out of room as a soundbite,' Adams answered, citing the more than 161,000 migrants whom have arrived and sought city aid since spring 2022.

Migrants lining outside St. Brigid school in the East Village to get lunch 

Kandry, from Congo, waiting to find shelter in Manhattan's East Village

Migrants wait for food and shelter in the East Village on Thursday

'We're out of room, literally', the Democrat declared. 'People are going to be eventually sleeping on the streets.'

Adams replied that he simply could not, due to laws that prohibit both state and local officers from enforcing federal immigration laws.

'I don't have the authorization to tell people that they can't come into New York City,' Adams explained to an unaware Scotto, who went on to ask: 'Why not?'

'It's against the law,' he replied, seemingly angry at the question. He then said it a second time, asserting once more: 'It's against the law.'

Estimates from earlier this week show that the city has spent $2billion housing the migrants, and still continues to pour money into the crisis. 

Poll after poll shows New Yorkers are unhappy with how the Biden Administration is handling the current situation, after it allocated only $140 million to aid the city.

Mayor Adams has had to go to DC more than ten times over the past few times to plead for more aid, as he faces a prospective $12 billion cost if the crisis continues.

Those calls have so far gone unanswered and for now the Big Apple appears to be on its own.

The mayor revealed the city's 'sanctuary' status has hindered his ability to handle the crisis 

Texas National Guard hold migrants crossing the Rio Grande River to seek humanitarian asylum before crossing the United States border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on January 2, 2024 

A migrant man crosses the Rio Grande holding his child in the air to prevent him from getting wet on January 2, 2024 

Republicans have seized upon border security issues as a main 2024 election issue, which has become a political headache for President Biden.

Speaker Mike Johnson and 60 House Republicans toured the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle Pass on Wednesday as part of their campaign.

The group, hosted by GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales who represents the area, will hear from Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and other stakeholders and tour the region.

It's the first large-scale congressional delegation to the border led by the new speaker.

In December Johnson sent a letter urging President Biden to use executive powers to immediately stem the flow of migration.

The speaker directed the president to end 'catch-and-release,' turning away any migrants encountered between ports of entry and use parole only on a 'case-by-case basis.'

He also called on the president to reinstated Trump-era policies like building the wall, reinstating the Remain in Mexico program and expanding expedited removal for those who cannot demonstrate asylum eligibility.