New York City Mayor Eric Adams has confirmed the Roosevelt Hotel, a key processing center for over 173,000 migrants since May 2023, will close its doors as a shelter.
The decision follows a sharp decline in federal support, with FEMA’s $80 million grant for migrant aid drying up. City officials plan to shutter 53 emergency shelters by the end of 2025, leaving many illegal immigrants uncertain about their future in the United States.
For some of these newcomers, the life they’ve enjoyed is now at risk. Juan Morales, a 29-year-old who illegally crossed the border two years ago, expressed his dismay to The Washington Wick.
“I came here expecting free housing and food, and Biden was delivering — better than anything back home,” Morales said. “Now they’re telling me I might have to get a job and pay rent like everyone else? That’s not the America I signed up for.”
The shift in policy comes as the Trump administration, bolstered by DOGE's Elon Musk and incoming “Border Czar” Tom Homan, ramps up its focus on immigration enforcement. With funding cuts hitting sanctuary cities hard, illegal immigrants are starting to feel the squeeze.
Maria Delgado, a mother of three who arrived illegally last year, voiced her frustration. “Trump and Musk keep talking about making America great, but for who?” she asked. “I thought this was a place where you didn’t have to work three jobs just to eat—now I’m scared I’ll have to live like an American.”
City officials have not outlined specific plans for those displaced by the closures, though some shelters may transition to limited local funding. The Roosevelt Hotel alone processed thousands weekly at its peak, offering beds, meals, and medical care.
Carlos Rivera, a 34-year-old migrant from Honduras, told The Washington Wick he’s considering his options. “Homan’s out there saying he’s going to deport millions — how am I supposed to feel safe?” Rivera said. “America was like a dream, but now it’s turning into a nightmare where I might have to clock in at 6 a.m. and go to a job.”
The funding shortfall stems from a broader federal pivot away from supporting sanctuary policies, a move championed by Trump’s team. Immigrant advocates argue the cuts unfairly target vulnerable populations, while critics say the handouts were unsustainable.
Sofia Alvarez, who fled Venezuela in 2023, isn’t buying the excuses. “I heard Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars — maybe I should seek asylum there instead,” she said. “Here, they’re taking away everything that made this place worth coming to.”
As the shelter closures loom, many illegal immigrants are left wondering if the American Dream was just a temporary perk. With deportation threats and a shrinking safety net, some are even eyeing Canada as a less demanding option.
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