On Monday, February 24th, Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City will close the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center and the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at the Roosevelt Hotel.
The Roosevelt Hotel has served as a key intake center since May 2023, when the city received around 4,000 asylum seekers weekly. The site provided legal aid, medical services, and family support. Over 232,000 migrants have sought assistance from the city since 2022, with more than 173,000 processed at the Roosevelt Hotel. However, new registrants have dropped to about 350 per week, prompting the city to shift intake services elsewhere.
“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.
The closure is part of a larger plan to scale back emergency shelter sites. By June 2025, the administration intends to close 53 shelters, citing declining numbers and policy changes that have eased the strain on city services. Officials estimate the plan will save over $5.2 billion across three fiscal years.
Fewer than 45,000 migrants remain in city care, down from a peak of 69,000 in January 2024. About 80% have moved toward self-sufficiency, with over 84% of eligible adults applying for or obtaining work permits. The city has also relocated more than 53,200 migrants.
The Roosevelt Hotel, once a symbol of the city’s response to the migrant crisis, will now transition out of use as a shelter. Officials say they remain committed to assisting asylum seekers as they integrate into communities.
