NEW YORK – New York City will close next week the immigrant relief center that opened last month on Randall’s Island to serve single men, as this group arriving in the city has declined, Mayor Eric Adams said.
Instead, it will establish a Humanitarian Response and Rescue Center for this population of single men at the Watson Hotel in Midtown, Manhattan, where they will have 600 rooms.
Adams said in a statement that the population of those seeking asylum in the United States who arrived in this city is estimated to exceed 23,800.
The immigrants have arrived since last May, accompanied from the state of Texas by Governor Greg Abbott or at his expense; many are in the public shelter system, others have continued to travel to other states while some have settled with family or friends.
Immigrants located in downtown Randall’s Island (between the boroughs of Harlem and Queens), whose number has not been specified, will be transported to the hotel. The city has opened three large tents in this place to accommodate 500 single men.
“We continue to welcome asylum seekers who come to the city with compassion and care. This center will provide asylum seekers with a place to stay, be supported and reach their final destination,” Adams said.
He explained that the city currently serves more than 17,500 asylum seekers, “a figure that continues to grow steadily.”
“We will continue to change as needed to address this humanitarian crisis, but it is clear that we still need financial assistance from our state and federal partners,” he reiterated.
The various services provided to immigrants will cost the mayor’s office $ 1,000 million this fiscal year.
