June 24, 2025 MANHATTAN, New York – The grand Roosevelt Hotel, a New York City icon that transformed into the primary intake center for tens of thousands of migrants and asylum-seekers since May 2023, is set to close its doors permanently today, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. This marks a significant shift in the city's approach to the ongoing migrant crisis.
For over a year, the historic hotel, once a symbol of Manhattan's Gilded Age, became a critical hub in the city's efforts to process and house the influx of new arrivals. It is estimated that the Roosevelt handled approximately 75% of the more than 232,000 migrants who have sought refuge in New York City.
Mayor Eric Adams announced the hotel's impending closure in late February, and operations have been steadily winding down. At its peak, the facility was a bustling center, but as of today, only 10 families remained housed within its walls.
The decision to close the Roosevelt reflects a changing landscape in migrant arrivals. When the hotel first opened its doors to asylum-seekers in May 2023, the city was grappling with an unprecedented 4,000 arrivals per week. That number has now significantly decreased, with the city averaging only a few hundred new arrivals weekly.
City officials state that with the Roosevelt's closure, "intake functions and supportive services will now be integrated into other areas of the system." This suggests a more decentralized approach to migrant processing moving forward.
