(DailyAnswer.org) – New York City is preparing to close 12 migrant shelters by the end of the year, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Two hotels previously converted into shelters—one in Manhattan and another near JFK Airport in Queens—have already closed. Ten more shelters located in upstate New York counties, including Albany and Westchester, are scheduled to shut down by December 31, city officials confirmed.
These closures reflect a sharp shift in how the city is handling the migrant crisis. Since 2022, over 223,000 migrants and asylum seekers have arrived in New York City, nearly half the population of Albany. To accommodate the influx, the city expanded its shelter system to 210 sites across the five boroughs. The most notable of these, a sprawling facility on Randall’s Island capable of housing 3,000 people, is slated to close in February, shortly after Trump’s inauguration.
Managing this crisis has cost the city dearly. Taxpayers have been footing a bill of $352 per migrant per night, covering housing, food, and other services. With 58,000 migrants still in shelters, the financial toll is projected to reach $12 billion over the next three years without significant policy changes. However, Mayor Eric Adams has announced declining numbers of new arrivals, thanks in part to federal efforts under the Biden administration. For example, there were fewer than 102,000 border encounters in September, the lowest figure since early 2021.
Despite the closures, Mayor Adams insists that the city’s approach is working. He praised his administration’s efforts to help migrants transition out of shelters, claiming it has saved taxpayers millions. Migrant families receiving eviction notices can now stay in their assigned shelters longer, allowing their children to remain in local schools and sparing the city additional transportation costs.
Not everyone is satisfied. Activists have criticized the city’s policies, particularly rules requiring adult migrants to leave shelters after 30 days. During a recent City Hall meeting, protesters demanded an end to all migrant evictions, calling the policies unjust and destabilizing.
Meanwhile, concerns remain about a potential surge in border crossings before Trump takes office. With 1,500 migrants forming a caravan in Mexico, experts warn of renewed pressure on already strained systems. Trump’s plans for stricter border controls and mass deportations are likely to intensify the debate surrounding immigration in the months ahead.
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