New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday the closure of the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center and the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at the Roosevelt Hotel, a historic property owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This decision marks the end of the city’s $220 million lease agreement with the hotel, a key location in managing the city’s migrant crisis.
In a post on social media platform X, Mayor Adams explained, “Today, we announced we will begin the process of closing down The Roosevelt Hotel’s Asylum Arrival Center and Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center. Thanks to the successful strategies we implemented in our city and policies we advocated for nationally, we’ll be closing this site that served new arrivals since the height of this crisis in 2023.”
At the height of the migrant influx, the city was receiving around 4,000 new arrivals each week. Now, thanks to the city’s policies, that number has significantly reduced to approximately 350. “Our city has skillfully managed this crisis, with over 232,000 migrants coming to our city seeking shelter in the last three years,” Adams added.
The Roosevelt Hotel played a critical role in the city’s operations, processing 75% of the migrants who sought shelter. As the city’s response to the crisis evolved and numbers dwindled, the closure of the facility became possible. “Because of our sound policy decisions and successful emergency response, we’re able to close this site and help even more migrants take the next step in their journeys — while saving taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Adams.
The Roosevelt Hotel, a renowned historic landmark, had been closed since 2020 due to severe financial losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was repurposed in 2023 as a shelter for asylum seekers after Pakistan’s government signed a three-year, $220 million lease agreement with New York City to operate the facility.
The hotel has a long history, having opened in 1924 and named after President Theodore Roosevelt. Located next to Grand Central Terminal, the iconic building has been a key part of New York City’s skyline for nearly a century.
In early 2024, the government signed a Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) with Jones Lang La Salle Americas Inc. (JLL) for a joint venture to develop the property. There were also reports in November 2024 suggesting that Qatar had explored a partnership with Pakistan to manage the Roosevelt Hotel.
The closure of the hotel’s asylum centers marks a significant step in the city’s ongoing efforts to manage the migration crisis while reducing costs to taxpayers.
