New York City is set to close its largest migrant intake center, located at the historic Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, according to an announcement made on Monday by Mayor Eric Adams. The closure marks a significant turning point in the city’s response to the ongoing asylum seeker crisis, with officials suggesting that the worst of the crisis may be over.
Since opening in May 2023, the Roosevelt Hotel has served as the primary hub for incoming migrants, providing legal services, medical aid, and temporary shelter for families with children. However, the number of asylum seekers registering for assistance has sharply declined in recent months.
Why Is the Roosevelt Hotel Migrant Center Closing?
The closure comes as part of Mayor Adams’ broader strategy to shutter 53 migrant shelters by June 2025. According to city officials:
- Approximately 232,000 migrants have sought shelter in New York City since the crisis began.
- Nearly 75% of those migrants passed through the Roosevelt Hotel intake center.
- New arrivals have decreased to 350 migrants per week, a stark drop from the 4,000 weekly arrivals recorded when the center first opened.
“Now, thanks to the sound policy decisions of our team, we are able to announce the closure of this site and help even more asylum seekers take the next steps in their journeys,” Adams said.
A Milestone in New York’s Migrant Crisis
Mayor Adams called the shutdown of the Roosevelt Hotel a milestone in the city’s efforts to manage the migrant influx. With fewer than 45,000 migrants remaining in the city’s care, the decision reflects both a decline in arrivals and the success of new policies aimed at reducing shelter dependency.
Recent measures include:
- Purchasing 53,000 travel tickets for migrants to relocate to other cities.
- Limiting shelter stays to 30 or 60 days to encourage faster transitions.
- Assisting asylum seekers with work authorization papers to help them find employment and reduce reliance on public assistance.
Legal Concerns and Community Reactions
While city officials view the closure as a success, legal advocates, including the Legal Aid Society, have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of migrants affected by shelter closures.
“Our concerns now are, one, that they continue to meet that obligation and make sure that people are safe… and that people not be targeted by being all in one place,” said Josh Goldfein, a Legal Aid attorney.
The city has not yet announced a specific closing date for the Roosevelt Hotel intake center. However, Mayor Adams stated that supportive services would be integrated into other parts of the city’s shelter system.
Federal Tensions: FEMA Seizes Funds Over Security Concerns
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the federal government recently seized $80 million in FEMA funds originally allocated to New York City to help house migrants. Officials cited concerns over alleged gang activity linked to the Tren de Aragua gang at the Roosevelt Hotel.
“FEMA was funding the Roosevelt Hotel that serves as a Tren de Aragua base of operations and was used to house Laken Riley’s killer,” a Homeland Security spokesperson claimed.
In response, New York City has filed a lawsuit demanding the return of the seized funds, calling the federal government’s concerns unfounded.
Drop in Migrant Arrivals: Policy Changes or Political Shift?
When asked if the drop in migrant arrivals could be linked to President Trump’s immigration policies, Adams suggested it was likely a combination of local policies and national border control measures.
“We started to see decreases in numbers prior to the incoming president… We saw seven straight months of decline, long before the president came into office,” Adams noted.
City officials credit their proactive policies for much of the decline, though changes in federal immigration enforcement have likely also played a role.
