The Row hotel in Times Square, which had been operating as a critical temporary housing site for migrants, will be closing its doors over the next eight months. The city has reported that more than 3,400 migrants are currently staying at the hotel, which has 1,300 rooms. Mayor Eric Adams highlighted the city’s efforts in recent months, stating that they have successfully helped over 200,000 migrants find their own housing or move toward self-sufficiency, as part of their strategy to address the migrant crisis in New York City.
As part of this effort, the city has also closed 64 emergency migrant sites, including all tent-based facilities that were previously used to house migrants. The closure of the Row hotel marks a turning point in the city’s response to the migrant issue, as officials have been under pressure to find sustainable solutions to the crisis, which has cost the city an estimated $5 billion over a two-year period. The city’s Asylum Application Help Center has processed 111,000 applications for federal protected status and work authorization, indicating a shift in the management of migrants from emergency shelter to a more structured system.
While the city has been working to relocate many migrants, the exact future of those still at the Row remains uncertain, and officials have not provided clear information on how the remaining residents will be moved. This highlights the ongoing challenges of managing a large-scale humanitarian effort in a densely populated city. Additionally, the closure of the Row hotel signals a broader shift in national border policies, as the Trump administration’s stricter border controls have reduced the number of migrants arriving in New York, easing some of the pressure faced by the city and its residents.