“Iconic Roosevelt Hotel Reopens to House Asylum-Seeker Families in New York City”

New York Mayor Eric Adamsreported this Saturday that the centenary and iconic hotel Roosevelt, Named after former President Theodore Roosevelt and closed three years ago, it will reopen for accommodate immigrant families with children They keep coming to the city.

It will also be established in this luxury hotel from 45th Street in Manhattan, steps from Fifth Avenue and the famous Grand Central Station, the 9th Emergency Humanitarian Aid and Response Center and various services will also be offered, such as medical assistance, among others.

The mayor explained in a statement that the Roosevelt hotel, which opened in 1924 and closed during the 2020 pandemicwill function as a centralized intake center for all asylum seekers and also provide them with a range of legal, medical and reconnection services with families and friends, as well as place them in a shelter.

Asylum seekers, arriving by bus to the Ports Authority, or to the airport, they will be directed to this new arrival center.

Immigrants who are already in shelters may also go to Roosevelt to receive a variety of services.

Starting this week, the hotel with 19 floors and a thousand roomswhich is added to the 120 hotels that the city has already contracted to house immigrants after overcrowding in public shelters, will have 175 rooms available for children and their familiesa space that will be expanded to reach 850 rooms.

Adams further indicated that between 100 and 150 rooms will be reserved. for immigrants who will continue their journey to other states.

The wave of immigrants to the city is expected to increase after the end of Title 42 launched under the pandemic and that it allowed the immediate expulsion for health reasons of immigrants who crossed the border without documents.

New York has received more than 65,000 immigrants since last August and more than 30,000 are in shelters that are also given food and various serviceswhich has created a humanitarian and economic crisis.

Two buses arrived on Friday and another three were received todayall sent by the Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abott, who since last year sends undocumented immigrants to sanctuary cities.

“We continue to ask our federal and state partners for a true decompression strategy and hope to open and trade temporary shelters across the state and nation, as the city has reached its capacity,” reiterated the Democratic mayor.

Adams has also begun sending immigrants to hotels outside of the city.which has generated a legal dispute because the localities refuse to receive them.

The city has had to open more than 140 emergency shelters and eight humanitarian aid centers, to which will be added the hotel Roosevelt. Adams has asked for federal financial help, which he has so far been unsuccessful.

The Roosevelt, owned by Pakistan International Airlinesfeatures an Italian Renaissance-style façade as well as interiors that resemble historic American buildings.

CR