Mayor Adams Announces Closure of Roosevelt Hotel Asylum Seeker Shelter

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday, February 24th, the upcoming closure of the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center and the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at the Roosevelt Hotel. This decision reflects a significant reduction in the number of migrants seeking assistance in the city.

Opened in May 2023, during a peak period when the city received approximately 4,000 asylum seekers weekly, the Roosevelt Hotel served as a central intake center. They provided legal assistance, medical care, and family reconnection support. Since spring 2022, over 232,000 migrants have sought the city’s aid, with more than 173,000 registering at the Roosevelt Hotel between May 2023 and February 2025. The number of new registrants has recently declined to about 350 per week. Consequently, the city plans to integrate these intake functions and supportive services into other areas of its system.

“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,” Mayor Adams stated. “Our administration has skillfully managed this crisis, which has seen over 232,000 migrants enter our city asking for shelter, and the Roosevelt Hotel has been key in allowing us to effectively manage our operations, processing over 173,000 individuals through these doors.”

The closure of the Roosevelt Hotel shelter is part of a broader strategy to reduce the city’s emergency shelter sites. By June 2025, the Adams administration plans to close 53 such sites, attributing this to effective asylum seeker management strategies and border policy advocacy. These efforts have led to over seven months of decreasing shelter census numbers and projected savings exceeding $5.2 billion over three fiscal years.

The number of migrants in city care has dropped to under 45,000 from a peak of 69,000 in January 2024. About 80% have moved toward self-sufficiency, with over 84% of eligible adults obtaining or applying for work permits. The city has also relocated more than 53,200 migrants, easing pressure on local resources.

The Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan symbolized NYC’s migrant crisis response. Its closure marks a key shift in the city’s three-year effort to support asylum seekers. Officials say they remain committed to helping new arrivals integrate.