Mayor Eric Adams announced on Tuesday that the city of New York will be closing 25 migrant shelters by the end of the month due to a decrease in the migrant shelter census. This decision includes the closure of a tent camp for migrant families at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. This move comes after fears that the site could be a target for President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans, especially given its location on federal parkland.
The decrease in migrants seeking shelter is seen as a positive outcome, with 11 shelters already closed and another 14 planned to close by the end of March. This decline is partially attributed to President Joe Biden’s border policies. Mayor Adams stated that this indicates successful management of the crisis, and the city will continue to look for more opportunities to consolidate and close shelters in order to save taxpayer money.
Since the spring of 2022, over 220,000 migrants have passed through New York City’s shelter system, utilizing more than 200 emergency shelter sites. The closure of these facilities marks a shift in the city’s response to the migrant crisis, with a focus on efficiency and cost-saving measures. Adams’ efforts have been praised for managing the situation better than other cities across the nation.
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