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New York Agrees To Shutter Scores Of Migrant Shelters

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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.


President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to crack down on illegal immigration and deport potential millions of people already in the U.S. illegally could be having an effect, even in parts of the country where Democratic officials have threatened to oppose him every step of the way.

Deep blue New York is set to close 12 migrant shelters before the end of the year, just weeks ahead of Trump taking office, Fox News reported Saturday.

Two hotels converted into migrant shelters—the Hotel Merit in Manhattan and the Quality Inn JFK in Queens—have already shut down. An additional 10 shelter facilities across the state are scheduled for closure by December 31, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office, as reported by Fox News Digital.

The 10 shelters, located in Albany, Dutchess, Erie, Orange, and Westchester counties, were established by the city after it ran out of available space to accommodate migrants, underscoring the magnitude of the crisis.

New York City’s expansive migrant shelter on Randall’s Island, designed to house up to 3,000 people, is scheduled to close by February 2025, just weeks after President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration on January 20.

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The closures come as Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday that the city has provided for more than 223,000 migrants and asylum seekers since the spring of 2022, a number equivalent to about half the population of Albany, the state capital.

City taxpayers have been covering a $352 nightly cost per migrant, with only $130 going to hotels for housing. The remainder has been spent on services such as social support, food, and cleaning, according to The New York Post.

Currently, 58,000 migrants remain in taxpayer-funded shelters across New York City, the mayor’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital. Approximately 210 city-run shelter sites are spread across the five boroughs, according to The Post. The city estimates that the ongoing migrant crisis could cost taxpayers roughly $12 billion over the next three fiscal years without significant policy changes.

The city cited the declining number of migrants arriving in New York as the reason for the shelter closures, attributing the reduction to federal government efforts and executive orders issued by the Biden-Harris administration.

In September, there were 101,790 encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border, the lowest since February 2021, with no major signs of a significant uptick since then. The Post reported that in the week ending November 10, over 600 new asylum seekers arrived in New York City.

“Our staff is on hand to help guests plan for next steps as the city consolidates its operations,” a spokesperson from New York city hall told Fox News Digital.

“Over the past two years, our teams have accomplished the Herculean task of providing compassionate care for a population twice the size of Albany and saving taxpayers billions of dollars,” Adams, who is under federal corruption investigation, added in a statement.

“We’ve focused on helping people take their next steps out of shelter and that focus is paying off. And with our census declining for the past 19 weeks in a row, it’s clear that our efforts are working. The new policies we’re implementing today will build on our successes, save taxpayers millions, and help even more migrants take their next steps towards fulfilling their American Dream,” he continued.

Adams also announced that migrant families who have received a second 60-day eviction notice will be allowed to remain in their assigned shelters if they require additional time in the system.

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Adams highlighted the decision as a cost-saving measure, stating it would save “taxpayers millions of dollars.” He emphasized that the policy helps children continue attending their current public schools, eliminating the need for costly busing, which he said saves the city hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The relaxation of eviction rules for migrant families was not enough to satisfy a group of approximately 50 left-wing activists who stormed City Hall on Wednesday during a hearing about the city’s shelter policy for adults. The policy mandates the permanent eviction of migrant adults from city shelters after 30 days.

“Immigrants are welcome here – Trumpian policy is not!” members of Jews For Racial & Economic Justice shouted from the mezzanine while unfurling a trio of banners that said: “Mayor Adams: end shelter evictions,” “Let all New Yorkers stay” and “Housing justice now.”

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