Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that the city’s main intake centres will be closed for nearly two years for newly arrived asylum seekers, with the Roosevelt Hotel announced Monday.
According to city hall, the Midtown Manhattan site opened in May 2023 as the city faced an influx of more than 4,000 new arrivals a week. The number is now falling to around 350, Adams said, allowing the city to close its hotel-turned-intake hub.
“Today we present another milestone by demonstrating the immense progress achieved by turning the corner in unprecedented international humanitarian efforts,” Adams wrote a video statement sent to NY1. I mentioned it in. “Our administration is skillfully managing this crisis. This crisis has led to over 232,000 migrants entering our city in search of shelter. The Roosevelt Hotel is a place where we are able to take care of ourselves. It was key to making our business effective.
The Roosevelt Hotel served as both the Asylum-seeking Arrival Center and the Humanitarian Emergency and Relief Center. Less than two years later, more than 173,000 immigrants (75% of all immigrants involved in city care) were processed there and received legal assistance, medical care and other services, according to the city’s news. It was mentioned in the release.
As the city moves forward, these services will “consolidate into other areas of the system,” officials said.
The closure is part of the broader efforts by the Adams administration to reduce emergency response to the immigration crisis. Already, the city has closed several sites, including the Floyd Bennett Field shelter in Brooklyn and the Creedmoor Humanitarian Rescue Centre in Queens.
The closure was over 69,000 at its peak in January 2024, thanks to a decline in the number of immigrants in the city’s care. The current number is less than 45,000.
Adams said the city plans to close 53 locations within next year.
Immigrants who arrive in the city will continue to receive assistance in taking measures to become self-sufficient, City Hall said.
The Adams administration already has more than 188,000 migrants who have requested assistance. The city has also facilitated over 98,000 applications for work permits, temporary protected status and asylum, and purchased over 53,200 travel tickets to help migrants move elsewhere .
“Thanks to the sound policy decisions of our team, we have announced the closure of this site, and many more asylum seekers will take the next step on their journey, while simultaneously bringing taxpayers to millions of dollars. It can help you save money,” Adams said.
