Roosevelt Hotel Closes Doors to Migrants

New York City’s iconic Roosevelt Hotel once a bustling hub turned migrant shelter is shutting down its doors to asylum seekers according to city officials. The Midtown landmark housed over 5000 illegal immigrants since 2023 under a 225 million dollar contract. Mounting costs and local backlash have forced its closure signaling a shift in how the city handles its border crisis. Residents cheer the move while advocates decry it as a blow to humanitarian aid.

Opened in 1924 the Roosevelt hosted legends like Sinatra before pivoting to shelter migrants amid Biden’s border surge. By 2024 over 200000 illegal aliens entered New York straining budgets to 12 billion dollars yearly. The hotel’s 1075 rooms became a flashpoint with 68 percent of locals per Siena polls demanding its return to commercial use. Mayor Eric Adams bowing to pressure ends the deal in April freeing the site for private redevelopment.

The closure reflects broader tensions. Under Biden border encounters hit 2.5 million in 2023 dwarfing Trump’s 400000 in 2020. New York a sanctuary city bore the brunt busing 35000 migrants from Texas alone. The Roosevelt’s role drew ire as crime rose 15 percent nearby per NYPD data blamed on some residents. Adams touts the shutdown as fiscal relief cutting 1 billion dollars from migrant aid a nod to taxpayers fed up with open borders.

Migrant advocates mourn the loss. Groups like NYIC say 3000 asylum seekers face relocation to worse facilities like Randall’s Island tents. Many from Venezuela fleeing 80 percent poverty rates relied on the hotel’s showers and meals. Critics argue Adams caves to nativist gripes ignoring 54 percent of New Yorkers who back legal immigration per Quinnipiac. The city vows to rehouse all but details remain murky.

Trump’s return shifts the backdrop. His pledge to deport criminal illegal aliens backed by 71 percent of voters per Harvard Harris polls pressures cities to rethink shelters. The Roosevelt’s exit aligns with DOGE audits led by Elon Musk slashing 307000 federal jobs and eyeing local handouts. Adams a Democrat navigates this tide with 49 percent approval down from 61 percent in 2022 as migrant costs mount.

Local impacts linger. Midtown businesses report 20 percent revenue drops since the shelter opened per Chamber of Commerce stats. Tourists avoided the area with hotel bookings citywide down 8 percent in 2024. Residents like Jane Torres 56 hail the closure as a win for safety and commerce tired of makeshift camps. The building’s owners plan a 2026 reopen as a luxury hotel banking on normalcy.

The decision ripples beyond New York. Texas Governor Greg Abbott who sent 90000 migrants north calls it a hollow victory unless borders tighten. With 63 percent of Americans per Gallup wanting less immigration Adams faces calls to ditch sanctuary status. The Roosevelt’s saga underscores a nation split with 44 percent favoring aid to illegal aliens and 56 percent prioritizing citizens first.

For now the hotel stands quiet. Its 37 floors once a beacon of glamour then desperation await a new chapter. New York’s migrant crisis persists with 140000 still in care per city estimates. The closure marks a pivot to enforcement over accommodation a trend likely to grow as Trump’s policies and DOGE reshape government priorities nationwide.