Thanks to the Trump administration’s quick reversal of former President Biden’s open border policy, the flow of illegal migrants into our country has slowed considerably, triggering the closure of Manhattan’s Roosevelt Hotel as a shelter to house migrants. New York City is the only city in the country to boast a legal “right to shelter.” Originally intended to aid the homeless, it became a loophole for illegals to flock to the city. Since the hotel’s conversion in May 2023, it has processed over 173,000 migrants, with initial weekly arrivals averaging around 4,000. Currently, this number has decreased to approximately 350 per week, prompting the city to announce the facility’s closure by June 2025.
Financially, the migrant crisis has imposed a substantial burden on the city. In 2023, New York City spent $1.47 billion on services for migrants, with the state’s contribution covering $438 million of this amount. The city’s spending escalated to $3.75 billion in 2024, and projections estimate $3.3 billion for Fiscal Year 2025. The daily cost per migrant in the shelter system is approximately $396, encompassing expenses such as housing, health care, and education.
The decision to close the Roosevelt Hotel and other migrant shelters—53 in total by June 2025—should serve as a harbinger of what is to come in other blue cities and states. However, efforts to manage the crisis have been met with resistance by the Left. For instance, in California, activists have actively opposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, including publicizing the personal information of ICE agents to disrupt enforcement activities. Additionally, political figures such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have organized seminars aimed at hindering ICE’s efforts, reflecting a broader effort to go against America-first policies.
Still, while the closure of the Roosevelt Hotel may have come too late, it underscores the need for other cities to follow New York’s suit by enforcing stricter immigration policies, securing the border, and prioritizing resources for American citizens rather than accommodating an unsustainable influx of migrants. Cities across the country must recognize the consequences of open-border policies and take decisive action to protect taxpayers, public safety, and the integrity of their communities.