The Roosevelt Hotel immigration shelter is set to close, having operated for three years. It became a notable symbol of the city’s immigration challenges located right in Manhattan.
As of Thursday, the shelter still housed fewer than ten asylum seekers. The venue was active on its last day as a spot for immigration intake, situated in a bustling area frequented by tourists and commuters.
This historic hotel served as the initial stop for many of the over 230,000 immigrants who arrived in five boroughs since 2022. At the height of the crisis, it accommodated nearly 2,900 individuals, funded by taxpayers.
Mayor Eric Adams announced the shelter’s impending closure in February, indicating that the immigration crisis was still far from resolved.
This week, the facility saw numerous workers and residents departing the premises.
A Venezuelan asylum seeker mentioned, “I think they’re now cleaning and fixing the building to hand it back to its owner.” She also noted she hadn’t found a new place to stay since her departure from the shelter last week.
During its peak, the hotel accommodated 29,000 immigrants.
The woman expressed some frustration about the closure of shelters: “Honestly, it’s complicated because most shelters are closing. I sleep wherever I can. Sometimes I end up on the street. My fate is in God’s hands.”
Since its opening in May 2023, the shelter has faced various issues. Reports from police indicated connections to criminal activities, specifically a moped robbing crew purportedly organized from within the hotel.
Multiple residents were arrested for shoplifting totaling $5,300, and one notably young suspect, just 12 years old, was implicated in assaults against NYPD officers in May.
One individual outside the hotel remarked, “Of the 100 Venezuelans here, 80 are trouble, and 20 are decent. The issue is that the good people end up suffering because of the bad ones.”
Previously, it was reported that hotels could be valued at up to $1 billion once migrants leave. Rumors suggest that the Pakistani government, which owns the property through its international airline, is contemplating reconstruction, potentially replacing the century-old hotel with new skyscrapers.
It remains uncertain if the hotel will reopen its doors to guests in the future.
