Ecuadorians, Chinese, Venezuelans, Indians. From Asia, through South America to the Pacific, migrants from 146 nationalities arrived in New York during the last fiscal year (October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024), according to data from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. The total number was 85,626 visa applications. Many are families with children, with over 3,000 under the age of 4.
The political situations in countries like Ecuador and Venezuela have driven thousands to cross borders: from Darién in Colombia, South American migrants crossed Central America and gathered at the southern border between Mexico and the United States. Compared to 2022, when the migration wave began, the number of arrivals is now decreasing. New York City has been explicitly recognized as a sanctuary city under various administrations, both at the municipal level and under mayors like Bill de Blasio and his successor, Eric Adams. However, things are changing. New immigration court cases continue to drop following President Biden’s June 4, 2024, proclamation that severely limits entry for those seeking asylum. The largest decrease in entries has been in Texas (down over 25,000), New York (down over 21,000), and Florida (down over 20,000).
In New York City, however, more than 64,000 migrants remain, raising concerns about the quality of life in neighborhoods with migrant shelters. Five departments manage these facilities: DHS Shelter (Department of Homeless Services Shelter); H+H Facilities (NYC Health + Hospitals Facilities); NYCEM Facilities (New York City Emergency Management Facilities); HPD Facilities (Department of Housing Preservation and Development Facilities); and DYCD Facilities (Department of Youth and Community Development Facilities). These departments handle legal and health procedures for asylum seekers as well as overnight shelter.
The DHS manages around 162 shelters throughout the city, of which only 66 are in Queens. The largest shelters are managed by the Department of Health. The Comptroller’s Office provides data on contracts for companies that provide services in H+H shelters. From the dataset, we can trace the number of shelters, capacity, and their locations. Most are in Manhattan, with only a few in outlying areas.
The largest shelter is on Randall’s Island, offering accommodation for 3,000 people. Then there are others at Candler Tower, the former psychiatric hospital of Creedmoor, the Row Hotel, and the Roosevelt Hotel, each housing over 1,000 people. The Roosevelt Hotel has become the hub of immigration in New York: it had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and when the migrant crisis erupted in 2022, Mayor Eric Adams decided to reopen it. Now these facilities have also become hotspots for people without shelter, who sleep nearby.
The problem is that there aren’t enough places for everyone, and visa processing times are very long. The Comptroller’s Office states that over 50,000 refugees are still waiting for their first visa hearing in the last fiscal year, out of more than 85,000 applications. Many of these migrants, according to an October 2023 law, must find an alternative housing solution within 30 days of entering a shelter, although they can reapply for accommodation if unable to find other arrangements. This law has sparked criticism from activists and City Council members, who fear it could increase homelessness and create difficulties for migrants in trying to obtain work permits or legal status.
In the background remains a battle between the city and the federal government over funding. Initially, Mayor Adams claimed that the costs of feeding and housing migrants would exceed $12 billion.
To make up for the lack of significant federal funding, Governor Kathy Hochul has allocated $2.4 billion to New York City as part of this year’s state budget to help cover some migrant shelter costs. The state is covering costs for the largest tent shelters.
The cost of housing and services for migrants, not only in New York City, has become one of the themes of the ongoing election campaign. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have different approaches regarding migrant housing and related costs. Trump argues that deporting migrants could reduce pressure on housing, freeing resources for American citizens, and advocates for tougher immigration policies to limit new arrivals. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, proposes expanding the availability of affordable housing. Her plan includes tax incentives for building new homes and focuses on a more inclusive housing policy that helps both migrants and low-income American citizens.
