New York City is preparing to shutter some of its largest migrant shelters, including a Brooklyn facility that once housed 4,000 people but became a focal point for complaints about crime and quality-of-life issues in the surrounding neighborhood. The decision, announced on Friday, is part of a broader effort to scale back the city’s emergency response to the migrant crisis as arrivals slow and shelter occupancy reaches its lowest point in 18 months.
Since the spring of 2022, the Big Apple has absorbed over 229,000 migrants, many fleeing economic and political instability in Latin America. But with just 51,000 migrants currently in city shelters — down from a peak of more than 69,000 in January — officials have outlined plans to close at least 46 facilities by June, a move they estimate will save billions of dollars, according to The New York Times.
Among the closures are several high-profile emergency shelters, including the Hall Street facility in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, and the Watson and Stewart Hotels in Manhattan. These join earlier shutdowns of sprawling tent shelters on Randall’s Island and Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, which housed thousands of migrants at their height. Yet even as the city scales back, the closures leave officials scrambling to relocate thousands of displaced migrants, many of whom remain in limbo.
To address the gap, a new shelter is set to open on Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, providing space for 2,200 single adult men previously housed in the now-closed tent complexes and other facilities. Mayor Eric Adams said the administration remains committed to helping migrants while seeking ways to reduce costs. “We are working tirelessly to support migrants in becoming self-sufficient, all while protecting taxpayer dollars and navigating this unprecedented humanitarian challenge,” Adams said in a statement.
In the Bronx, the new Bruckner Boulevard shelter has drawn a mixed response. Diana Ayala, a councilwoman representing parts of the borough, supported the site but described it as a temporary solution. She expressed concerns about the growing concentration of shelters in the Bronx and the safety of its occupants, particularly given fears of deportation under federal policies.
City officials have emphasized the benefits of transitioning from temporary tent facilities to permanent shelters, noting that the move will allow for the refurbishment of athletic fields on Randall’s Island. However, the declining shelter population is also linked to recent city policies imposing 30- and 60-day limits on stays, requiring migrants to reapply for housing. Critics argue that these measures, while reducing occupancy, have left many migrants disoriented and without clear paths forward.
Adams has repeatedly called on federal officials to expedite work permits for migrants, but local watchdogs say the city’s overloaded caseworkers and frequent relocations have hindered progress. Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the mayor, said the new Bronx shelter would include partnerships with community organizations to provide better support for migrants.
“We are making real progress in helping migrants move out of shelters and build new lives,” Garcia said, adding that the city remains committed to finding long-term solutions for one of the most pressing crises it has faced in recent years.
On a federal level, President Joe Biden announced an extension of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants, a move pushed by New York and other cities. The policy is expected to offer some stability to migrants seeking refuge in the United States, though local officials say much more needs to be done to address the underlying challenges.
