A historic Manhattan hotel, once a symbol of New York City’s response to an influx of international migrants, is slated to close soon. The Roosevelt Hotel, conveniently located just a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal, is one of more than 50 migrant shelters that Mayor Eric Adams announced will no longer be needed and will be closed by June.
The closure of the Roosevelt Hotel comes amid a substantial decrease in migrant arrivals over the past seven months. The city has managed to relocate many migrants to other housing arrangements or different communities, according to Mayor Adams. The move is another chapter in the city’s challenging journey to address the multifaceted issue of large-scale migration. This decision also unfolds against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies, which have sparked criticism of New York City’s use of hotels as shelters. Adams has faced scrutiny over his handling of the city’s immigration policies, particularly since the Justice Department highlighted the necessity of his cooperation on immigration enforcement.
The Roosevelt Hotel, which opened its doors in 1924, once represented the splendor of the Jazz Age and served as the electoral headquarters for New York Governor Thomas Dewey’s failed 1948 presidential bid. However, the hotel’s history met an abrupt pause when it shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. By May 2023, overwhelmed by approximately 4,000 migrant arrivals each week, the city leased the Roosevelt to meet its legal obligation to provide temporary housing to those in need. The location served as an arrival center and shelter for families, offering up to a 60-day stay without reapplication.
The Roosevelt Hotel, situated in Midtown Manhattan, came to epitomize what officials termed a “migrant crisis,” drawing attention last summer when people resorted to sleeping on the streets outside. The winter saw federal officials alleging the hotel as a hotbed for gang activity, resulting in FEMA retracting $80 million allocated to the city. Despite these claims, a subsequent federal visit found no evidence of such activities.
Mayor Adams explained that the decline in migrant numbers is partly due to stricter federal immigration measures at the tail end of the Biden administration and as President Donald Trump commenced a second term. Additionally, city initiatives such as imposing limits on shelter stays and providing travel tickets for migrants wishing to move contributed to the decrease.
As the Roosevelt Hotel prepared for its closure, Mayor Adams assured that those currently utilizing its services will be provided alternative accommodations. He also maintained that the city will continue offering some form of assistance to new arrivals, despite concerns from organizations like the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless about the city’s capacity to address these needs effectively.
The future of the Roosevelt Hotel’s iconic building remains uncertain as a real estate venture may be underway to determine its next chapter. The hotel’s closure marks the end of a significant effort to manage New York City’s migrant challenges during unprecedented times.
