Mayor Eric Adams announced the closure of 13 emergency migrant shelters, including one of the city’s largest facilities, Hall Street in Brooklyn.

This decision comes after 27 consecutive weeks of declining shelter census and nearly $500 million in taxpayer savings. By June 2025, the administration plans to close 46 shelters, reducing capacity by approximately 10,000 beds.

“The policies we implemented, and the tremendous work of the dedicated public servants who execute our mission, show how our administration continues to creatively and effectively manage an unprecedented crisis,” said Mayor Adams. “Our intensive and smart efforts have helped more than 178,000 asylum seekers — 78 percent of the migrants who have ever been in our care — take the next steps on their journeys towards pursuing the American Dream.”

Since asylum seekers began arriving in 2022, New York City has supported over 229,000 migrants. Current shelter numbers are below 51,000, significantly reduced from a high of 69,000 in January 2024. Adams credited federal border policy changes, expanded work authorization efforts, and case management strategies for the consistent decrease in shelter populations.

Among the closures are notable sites such as Hall Street Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center in Brooklyn, Holiday Inn Express in Brooklyn, The Watson Humanitarian Emergency Response Center in Manhattan, and Hotel Nedia in Queens.

Despite the closures, the city will open a smaller brick-and-mortar facility on Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, dedicated to single adult males transitioning from the tent-based site at Randall’s Island. The city is collaborating with nonprofits to provide resources to migrants as they transition.

Molly Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Asylum Seeker Operations, emphasized the administration’s commitment.

“With these successes, we must continue to support all new arrivals — those in our care and those arriving. The effective closure of facilities, as progress dictates, ensures compassion remains at the heart of our strategies.”

Federal collaborations have also been pivotal. Over 95,000 applications for work authorization, asylum, and temporary protected status have been completed. Furthermore, 53,200 travel tickets have been purchased to help migrants reach their destinations, significantly reducing taxpayer burdens.

Local leaders and residents welcomed the closures. Congressmember Nicole Malliotakis expressed relief: “The Holiday Inn shelter in Travis has been a nuisance to the community… We won’t stop fighting until every one of these shelters is shuttered.”

Attorney General Letitia James supported the decision, stating, “The conditions at the Hall Street shelter have not been working for its residents or the broader community.” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. noted, “Queens will continue to support our immigrant brothers and sisters… That’s what being a New Yorker means.”

Councilmember Crystal Hudson highlighted the significance of addressing inequalities in shelter systems. “I’m glad there’s a plan to responsibly transition existing residents to a new location while ensuring our diverse immigrant populations continue to thrive.”

With these closures, Mayor Adams has positioned New York City as a leader in managing the national migrant crisis while safeguarding taxpayer resources and supporting migrants’ journeys toward self-sufficiency. The administration remains focused on addressing the remaining challenges of this unprecedented humanitarian effort.