New York mayor closes shelters for asylum seekers amid rightward turn

The New York city mayor, Eric Adams, announced today that an additional 25 shelters used to house asylum seekers will be closing in the coming two months.

The move comes amid a rightward tack by Adams, especially on the issue of immigration, which has seen him hew close to the incoming Donald Trump administration, which has plans for a mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.

The number of asylum seekers in city shelters is now at its lowest point in 17 months after decreasing for 22 straight weeks.

Among the closing shelters are the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at Floyd Bennett Field, which houses some 2,000 people, with housing costs paid by New York state. The state will continue to reimburse New York City the costs for equivalent care incurred at other migrant housing sites across the city.

According to city officials, the closures will help save the city $2.3bn.

“Thanks to our smart management strategies, 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,” saidAdams in a statement.

“We’re going to continue looking for more sites to consolidate and close, and more opportunities to save taxpayer money, as we continue to successfully manage this response.”

The decision to evict migrants from shelters has been a polarizing one, with many saying that the 30- and 60-day notices issued to people losing their accommodation are not sufficient for families yet to obtain other resources in New York.

Adams, who was elected mayor after running a centrist-leaning Democratic campaign, has been at the center of many controversies during his run in office. The mayor has been criticized for what many have perceived as a drift towards rightwing policies, with speculation that he is attempting to get Trump’s good graces as Adams faces prosecution over allegations he accepted bribes from Turkish officials.

The Legal Aid Society and Coalition for the Homeless issued a joint statement in response to the closure of the Floyd Bennett Field shelter.

“While we welcome this closure, one which we have long advocated for because this site was never an appropriate setting for families with children and raised concerns about families’ safety, we are mindful of the disruption it causes to the families we serve, who above all else are longing for stability,” the statement said.

“In preparation for the president-elect’s plans to implement mass deportations nationwide, we are closely monitoring these closures and transfers to ensure new arrivals’ access to shelter and protection from any potential federal immigration enforcement dragnets.”

The shelters currently slated for closure are spread across the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. There are additional closures planned in New York state, including in the cities of Albany and Buffalo.