Insights

New York City has officially closed the Roosevelt Hotel, which previously operated as the largest migrant arrival center in the city. The hotel, located in Manhattan, was transformed into a shelter during the significant influx of asylum seekers starting in May 2023, quickly becoming a focal point for addressing the humanitarian crisis. At its peak, the center housed up to 3,000 asylum seekers daily, providing essential services such as medical care, legal assistance, and housing referrals to tens of thousands who sought refuge in the city. Since its opening, the Roosevelt Hotel has served approximately 155,000 migrants, representing a significant portion of the over 237,000 asylum seekers who arrived in New York since April 2022. The city authorities indicated that the operations at the hotel were closing in response to a decline in the number of arrivals, which once peaked at around 4,000 per week but has since dwindled to approximately 100 weekly. This reduction is attributed to stricter immigration policies implemented during the latter part of the Trump administration and the ongoing tightening measures under President Biden’s administration. As part of a broader strategy, Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to shut down multiple shelters by June in addition to the Roosevelt Hotel. In the days leading up to the closure, staff members continued to assist the remaining asylum seekers, providing them with necessary services, such as health screenings and job assistance, even after the hotel closed its doors to new arrivals. Mayor Adams noted that the humanitarian effort in response to the migrant crisis has cost the city around $7 billion since 2022, while also emphasizing that although the Roosevelt’s closure marks a milestone, it is not the end of the challenges faced by migrants in the city. Local advocates echoed this sentiment, urging for better coordination among remaining shelters and grassroots organizations to continue providing support to vulnerable individuals. As the last day of operation for the Roosevelt came to a close, many questioned the future of the historic hotel, which has sat vacant since the official closing. Opened in 1924, the Roosevelt Hotel had a rich history, including serving as an election headquarters for a past New York Governor and hosting an in-house band led by jazz legend Guy Lombardo. Following the closure of this significant facility, New York City is now shifting focus to ensure that the needs of migrants continue to be met at the other shelter locations still in operation throughout the city.