New York City is in the process of shutting down 25 of its emergency migrant shelters, including the vast relief center at Floyd Bennett Field in Queens, as the influx of asylum seekers decreases. Mayor Eric Adams credited "smart management strategies" for the ability to close these facilities, which have been a critical part of the city's response to the migrant crisis over the past two years.

Numbers from City Hall show that, for 22 consecutive weeks, the quantity of asylum seekers housed in city shelters has been on a decline, now standing at approximately 54,900—the lowest in the last 17 months, according to a Crain's New York Business report. This change is partly attributed to the Biden administration's new border policies, and Mayor Adams's instituting of caps on shelter stays.

The closures, some already underway and others planned through February 2025, will include dormitories previously utilized by Hunter College and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy on the Upper West Side. The controversial 2,000-person migrant shelter at Floyd Bennett Field, which has seen opposition from local communities, is slated for closure in January, detailed in a report from the New York Post.

Adams has emphasized the effectiveness of the city’s efforts to manage this humanitarian challenge and pointed out that, over the span of two busy years, more than 225,000 people passed through these emergency facilities. “We’ve turned the corner, and this additional slate of shelter closures we’re announcing today is even more proof that we’re managing this crisis better than any other city in the nation,” Adams said in a statement obtained by Crain's New York Business.

Despite the upcoming closures, what will happen to these properties remains uncertain. Over 150 hotels in New York City, converted into migrant shelters since the crisis began in 2022, now face an ambiguous future, with industry speculation they may revert to hotels instead of undergoing residential transformations.