The NYPD evacuated the migrant shelter on Randall’s Island on Friday to conduct a thorough search of the building after a series of violent incidents over the past two months.

The thousands of migrants residing in the shelter were instructed to leave as officers searched for suspects and evidence related to several cases.

Approximately 3,000 residents waited outside for hours while officers searched for drugs and weapons.

Police reported an increase in quality-of-life complaints and violence associated with the shelter and others.

Early Monday morning, a gunman opened fire on a crowd, killing a 44-year-old woman and injuring two others.

Additionally, there were two other shootings earlier this month, where investigators suspect the victims might have been Venezuelan gang members.

One of the migrants said that  her suitcase was stolen while she was sleeping. She also mentioned the need for better security, as outsiders frequently hop the fence and bypass security measures.

Legal Aid released a statement condemning the search as unconstitutional:

“Temporarily displacing and conducting a police raid on 3,000 new arrivals despite today’s heat advisory not only raises serious constitutional questions, but is draconian and fuels dangerous xenophobic sentiment,” the statement said in part. “These actions just further compound the trauma our clients and other shelter residents have already endured both during their journeys to New York and in their home countries because of their sexual and gender identities, political affiliations, and otherwise.”