New York plans to close down 12 migrant shelters by the end of the year, signaling a significant shift in its handling of the ongoing migrant crisis in the city. The closures, announced just prior to President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, underscore the strain on resources and the political tensions surrounding immigration policies.
As highlighted by Mike Shedlock of MishTalk.com back in June, 20% of NYC hotels have been transformed into migrant shelters, resulting in increased hotel room costs for paying guests.
Already, two hotel-based shelters have been shut down – the Hotel Merit in Manhattan and the Quality Inn JFK in Queens. Another 10 facilities across the state, including in Albany, Dutchess, Erie, Orange, and Westchester counties, are set to cease operations by December 31, as confirmed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office. The expansive Randall’s Island shelter, capable of housing up to 3,000 migrants, is scheduled to close by February 2025, shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
Challenges of Scale and Cost
Since the spring of 2022, over 223,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in New York City – approximately half the population of Albany. The city has grappled with accommodating and supporting this influx, managing 210 city-run shelter sites across the five boroughs. At present, 58,000 migrants are housed in taxpayer-funded shelters, costing the city an estimated $352 per migrant per night. Of this amount, only $130 goes directly towards housing expenses, with the remainder allocated to social services, food, and cleaning.
The NYPD has allocated $21 million towards public safety and security related to the migrant population.
The staggering figures, detailed on the city’s online asylum-seeker funding tracker, reveal that the city has collectively spent $4.88 billion over fiscal years 2023 and ‘24. Based on the current spending rate, the city is likely to have exceeded $112 million since the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, with the total soon surpassing $5 billion.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has projected that costs could double, reaching $10 billion by the end of the three-year period ending on June 30, 2025. -NY Post
Unless there are policy adjustments, the crisis is forecasted to cost New York taxpayers $12 billion over the next three fiscal years, according to city estimates. Mayor Adams commended efforts to streamline shelter operations and reduce expenses, noting a 19-week decline in the migrant census.
“Over the past two years, our teams have managed the monumental task of providing compassionate care to a population twice the size of Albany and saving taxpayers billions of dollars,” Adams remarked. “The new strategies we are implementing today will enhance our achievements, save taxpayers millions, and assist even more migrants in progressing towards realizing their American Dream.”
Meanwhile, an audit released in August revealed that NYC had overpaid upstate hotels by millions for accommodating illegal immigrants.
Of the questionable payments, $2.5 million were for unauthorized security, medical, and social services, $1.7 million for unoccupied rooms, and $230,000 for inflated food charges, as per the audit.
In one instance, a Newburgh hotel billed a total of $57,000 for hundreds of unoccupied rooms in early May, resulting in an additional $40,000 in commissions for DocGo.
Controversies Surrounding Shelter Evictions
Despite efforts to alleviate the strain on the system, the city’s shelter eviction policies have sparked debate. Families issued a second 60-day eviction notice are now permitted to remain in their assigned shelters if they require more time, a decision praised by Adams for its cost-effectiveness and positive impact on children’s education continuity.
However, adult migrants face stricter regulations, with a policy mandating their permanent eviction from city shelters after 30 days. This policy has drawn criticism from activist groups, including Jews For Racial & Economic Justice, who staged a protest at City Hall during a hearing on the matter.
“Immigrants are welcome here – Trumpian policy is not!” chanted protesters, accusing the city of violating its long-standing right-to-shelter rule, originally established to combat homelessness. Activists condemned the eviction policy as “cruel and destabilizing” before being escorted out of the chamber.
Shifts in the National Landscape
While the influx of migrants into New York has slowed, with fewer arrivals and approximately 101,790 encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in September – the lowest since February 2021 – concerns persist regarding potential surges before the implementation of Trump’s border policies. A group of 1,500 migrants in southern Mexico, near the Guatemala border, is reportedly attempting to cross before Trump’s inauguration.
Trump has pledged to enforce stringent immigration measures, including securing the southern border, conducting large-scale deportation operations, and terminating Biden administration parole programs and the CBP One app. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been appointed as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, with former ICE Director Tom Homan named as “border czar.”
As New York City streamlines its migrant operations, Adams faces a challenging road ahead. The closures indicate a shift in the city’s approach but also underscore the broader national discourse on immigration policy.
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