New York City Mayor Adams announced on December 10th that due to the continued decrease in undocumented immigrants seeking refuge in the city, a total of 25 immigrant shelters in the city and upstate New York will be closed by the end of March next year. This includes the controversial large tent camp at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.
The number of undocumented immigrants arriving in New York City seeking refuge has been decreasing for 22 consecutive weeks, reaching the lowest point in 17 months. The number of immigrants living in municipal shelters or emergency relief centers has also continued to decline, with a reduction of 10,000 people from the peak of 68,000 people last December. Consequently, the city government has decided to close 15 shelters in New York City and 10 shelters located in upstate New York, including Albany, Buffalo, and Poughkeepsie.
Of the 25 shelters, 11 have already been closed, and the remaining 14 will be shut down before the end of March next year. The closure list includes the highly contested large tent camp at Floyd Bennett Field, which is federally leased and is expected to be vacated by January 15 next year, just five days before the inauguration of President Trump. TheCity website previously reported that opponents have vowed to urge Trump to terminate the lease after taking office, while supporters are concerned that Trump may turn the location into a detention center. The city government leased the site from the National Park Service in September last year and renewed the contract for one year in September this year. However, as per the lease agreement, either party can terminate the contract with a 90-day notice.
The list of closures currently does not include the similarly opposed large shelter at Hall St in Brooklyn, which is estimated to house 4,000 immigrants in a warehouse conversion shelter. TheCity reported that nearby residents have been continuously pressuring the city government through protests to reduce the size of the shelter and terminate the lease with the owner, RXR, as the lease has already expired.
City spokesman, Noah Levine, declined to disclose whether the city government intends to renew the lease but mentioned that they are exploring ways to downsize. In addition to closing shelters, city officials also plan to transfer all immigrant shelters back to the Department of Homeless Services for unified management by the summer of 2026.
According to city data, since the beginning of the immigrant crisis in 2022, New York City has received a total of 170,000 undocumented immigrants, assisting nearly 87,000 individuals in completing work permits, temporary protected status, and asylum applications. Over 70% of immigrants who applied for work permits have been approved. Additionally, the city government has purchased 47,000 plane tickets to help immigrants travel to other destinations.