New York City has announced the impending closure of 12 migrant shelters by year's end.
Mayor Eric Adams has revealed plans to shut these facilities due to a significant decrease in migrant arrivals, Fox News reported.
Mayor Eric Adams explained that the action follows a significant decline in the number of migrants arriving in the city.
The closures will include two hotel facilities—Hotel Merit in Manhattan and Quality Inn JFK in Queens—as well as additional shelters across various counties such as Albany, Dutchess, Erie, Orange, and Westchester.
The city's large shelter on Randall's Island, which can accommodate up to 3,000 individuals, will also close by February 2025.
Since spring 2022, Mayor Adams reported New York City has assisted over 223,000 migrants and asylum seekers.
This effort has posed a significant financial demand, costing city taxpayers $352 nightly per migrant, with $130 of that for hotel housing costs. Currently, 58,000 migrants reside in taxpayer-funded accommodations across approximately 210 shelters distributed through the city's boroughs.
The announcement of these closures coincided with protests by left-wing activists. The group Jews For Racial & Economic Justice voiced particular opposition, specifically against the eviction of migrant adults from shelters, which they argue breaches the city's historic right to shelter rule.
"Our staff is on hand to help guests plan for next steps as the city consolidates its operations," commented a city hall spokesperson. This reflects an effort to ease transitions for affected individuals.
Mayor Eric Adams positioned these measures as part of a broader strategy to streamline city services and reduce financial strain. "Over the past two years, our teams have accomplished the Herculean task of providing compassionate care for a population twice the size of Albany and saving taxpayers billions of dollars," he stated.
"We’ve focused on helping people take their next steps out of shelter and that focus is paying off. And with our census declining for the past 19 weeks in a row, it’s clear that our efforts are working. The new policies we’re implementing today will build on our successes, save taxpayers millions, and help even more migrants take their next steps towards fulfilling their American Dream," Mayor Adams elaborated.
During a protest at City Hall, activists from Jews For Racial & Economic Justice shouted, "Immigrants are welcome here – Trumpian policy is not!" Their chants reflected the contentious atmosphere surrounding immigration policies as President-elect Donald Trump, known for his stringent stance on immigration, prepares to take office.
Despite the weekly arrival of over 600 new asylum seekers in the city, the decline in overall migrant encounters at the border—reported as the lowest since February 2021—serves as the rationale behind the shelter reductions. If left unchecked, the city's migrant crisis threatens to escalate costs to $12 billion over the next three budget cycles.
The initiatives introduced by Mayor Adams seek to address both logistical and financial challenges posed by the city's handling of migrant shelters while balancing humanitarian concerns. The debate continues to unfold as community members and activists respond to the evolving dynamics of New York City's migrant support structure.
