The massive Roosevelt Hotel migrant shelter in Manhattan will shut down in the next few months, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.
The converted facility, which has around 1,000 rooms, has processed more than 173,000 migrants since its opening in May 2023, the city says.
“While we’re not done caring for those who come into our care, today marks another milestone in demonstrating the immense progress we have achieved in turning the corner on an unprecedented international humanitarian effort,” Adams said in a statement Monday. “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 as they envision an even brighter future, while simultaneously saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
A source told the New York Post that the closure is expected to happen by June. Adams’ office said the Roosevelt Hotel shelter opened in May 2023 “during the height of the international asylum seeker crisis, with the city receiving an average of 4,000 arrivals each week.”
“The site has provided a variety of supportive services to migrants, including legal assistance, medical care, and reconnection services, as well as served as a humanitarian relief center for families with children,” it added. “In recent months, the average number of registrants has decreased to approximately 350 per week. Going forward, these intake functions and supportive services will now be integrated into other areas of the system.”
Adams’ office also said Monday that “there are currently fewer than 45,000 migrants in the city’s care, down from a high of 69,000 in January of 2024 and out of the more than 232,000 that have arrived in New York City seeking city services since the spring of 2022. “
During the final few weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency, around 400-500 new migrants were requesting city help every week, the New York Post reported.
The anticipated closure of the Roosevelt Hotel shelter – which reportedly has been linked to gang activity as well – comes as New York City has been shuttering other migrant care sites.
“The planned transfer of intake functions from The Roosevelt Hotel to other areas within the system, alongside the planned closures of 53 other emergency shelter sites by June, reflects the dedicated efforts of the Adams administration to address an international crisis and to supporting asylum seekers as they pursue their path towards the American Dream,” Adams’ office said Monday.
