The Roosevelt Hotel, an iconic spot in Midtown Manhattan, has faced a significant transformation over the last few years. Once a bustling hotel, it took on a new role amid New York City’s migrant crisis, earning the nickname “the new Ellis Island.” This name reflects its function as a center for migrants seeking refuge in the city.
Images of countless immigrants waiting outside the hotel for shelter became a stark symbol of the crisis. However, the situation is changing. Mayor Eric Adams recently announced that the hotel will stop operating as a shelter by June. This marks a turning point, as the number of migrants arriving has decreased, leading to the closure of emergency shelters created nearly three years ago.
The Roosevelt Hotel first closed to regular guests in 2020 due to the pandemic. It then reopened as a shelter for migrants, drawing attention nationally as the crisis escalated. With thousands passing through its doors, the hotel became a focal point in discussions about immigration and public spending.
This announcement is part of a broader trend as cities like Chicago and Denver have also closed their last remaining migrant shelters. As the challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border have lessened, cities are beginning to dismantle the emergency systems they set up to handle the influx.
Currently, the Roosevelt Hotel still houses over 2,800 migrants, but it is one of more than 50 shelters in New York that have closed or are slated to close as arrivals continue to drop. Recently, the city also shuttered large tent shelters on Floyd Bennett Field and Randall’s Island, signaling a major shift in how New York is managing the migrant situation.
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Immigration Shelters,Hotels and Travel Lodgings,Illegal Immigration,Roosevelt Hotel (Manhattan, NY),Adams, Eric L,Midtown Area (Manhattan, NY),New York City,Shutdowns (Institutional)
