NY City's migrant shelter scheme
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a criminal investigation into several New York City hotels that have been repurposed as migrant shelters, according to various news reports. The probe centers on the funding and management of these facilities, raising questions about their operations amid the city’s ongoing efforts to house a growing population of migrants.
A federal subpoena, reviewed by The New York Times and the New York Post, was issued to Manhattan’s Hotel Chandler. The document reportedly demands testimony and evidence tied to the migrant shelter program, hinting at an “alleged violation” of federal immigration law, though specifics of the violation remain undisclosed. Among the requested materials, prosecutors sought a comprehensive list of migrants currently staying at the hotel, including their nationalities, dates of birth, and identification numbers, as detailed by the Times.
New York City has faced significant challenges since the surge of illegal immigrants began during the Biden-Harris administration. More than 160,000 migrants have arrived in the city, prompting Democratic Mayor Eric Adams to repeatedly call on the federal government for assistance. To manage the situation, the city has constructed new shelters and repurposed schools and hotels, spending heavily in the process. Data from NYC’s Comptroller’s Office shows the city allocated $1.47 billion for asylum seeker shelter and services in fiscal year 2023, with costs rising to $3.75 billion in fiscal year 2024.
The Times further reported that federal prosecutors asked the Hotel Chandler to identify the entities and individuals overseeing the “funding and management of the illegal immigrant/migrant shelter program.” They also requested any contracts or agreements related to the initiative. Interestingly, despite its conversion into a homeless shelter, both the Times and the New York Post noted that the Hotel Chandler has not been used to house migrants. In contrast, the nearby Candler Building in Times Square has served as a housing facility for illegal immigrants.
This federal scrutiny follows recent developments at another prominent site, the Roosevelt Hotel, which had operated as a shelter for illegal migrants. On February 24, the hotel shuttered its Asylum Arrival Center and Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center. Mayor Adams announced the closure, citing a sharp decline in migrant arrivals. “Our city was receiving 4,000 migrants each week during the height of the crisis, and now we’re down to approximately 350 new arrivals each week,” Adams stated.
The DOJ’s investigation emerges as the second Trump administration, which began with President Donald Trump’s inauguration, intensifies its focus on the illegal migrant crisis. During the Biden-Harris administration, millions crossed into the United States, straining resources in cities like New York. Under the leadership of border czar Tom Homan and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the Trump administration has ramped up enforcement efforts, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reporting over 30,000 arrests.
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The crisis was a direct result of Biden's open border policy. It did not happen during Trump's first term and it has shrunk dramatically under his current term. One of the reasons Trump was elected in 2024 was because voters rejected the Biden open borders policies. Only around 20 percent of voters supported the Biden policy on illegal immigrants.
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JD Vance WRECKS heckler on the REAL cost of illegal immigration
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