NYC's Roosevelt Hotel migrant intake center to close after nearly 2 years, Adams says

NEW YORK CITY - After nearly two years in operation, Midtown’s Roosevelt Hotel migrant intake center and emergency shelter will soon shut down all operations.

What we know:

The Roosevelt Hotel, which was converted into a migrant shelter and processing center, is set to close after nearly two years of operation. The city originally signed a $220 million contract to utilize the 1,000-room hotel, which had been closed since 2020 due to the pandemic.

Mayor Adams announced that the decline in migrant arrivals—down from 4,000 per week to 350 per week—has made it possible to begin shutting down the shelter. The Roosevelt is one of more than 50 facilities the city plans to close.

What they're saying:

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the news in a nearly two-minute-long video released by City Hall, saying the impending closure will happen in the coming months.

"The Roosevelt Hotel, which served as both our asylum arrivals center and the humanitarian emergency response and relief center for nearly two years, will be closing," Adams said.

The hotel was transformed into a migrant arrival center back in May 2023 and has since processed tens of thousands of migrants each day. But the mayor says the number has now dwindled down to the hundreds.

"With the city receiving an average of 4,000 arrivals each week, now, thanks to our policies, we're down to an average of just 350 new arrivals each week," Adams said.

The site provided a variety of supportive services, including legal assistance and medical care. For instance, migrants who wanted to connect with family or friends elsewhere were given bus tickets out of the state. Those in need of shelter were assigned to a site and given instructions on how to apply for asylum.

"Our administration has skillfully managed this crisis, which has seen over 232,000 migrants enter our city asking for shelter," Adams said.

By the numbers:

• 173,000 migrants have been processed at the Roosevelt Hotel since its opening.
• 232,000 migrants have arrived in New York City seeking city services since spring 2022.
• 45,000 migrants remain in the city’s care today.
• $7 billion has been spent managing the crisis.
• 53 emergency shelters, including the Roosevelt Hotel, will be closed by June.
• $80 million in FEMA funding was revoked by the Trump administration, prompting a lawsuit from the city’s legal department.

What's next:

It remains unclear whether the hotel will reopen to tourists or be redeveloped as a mixed-use property. The building’s future use has yet to be determined by its owners and city officials.