New York City is set to shut down its Randall’s Island migrant shelter, one of the largest tent setups for asylum seekers, amid steadily declining numbers of new arrivals. Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday the closure will take effect at the end of February 2024. This shelter, which came to symbolize the city’s migrant crisis, had been housing around 2,250 people at its peak, highlighting the scale and complexity of the situation the city has been grappling with since 2022.
The announcement highlighted the diminishing rate of asylum seekers, with new arrivals decreasing for 14 consecutive weeks. Peak numbers previously reached around 4,000 arrivals per week but recently dropped to just 700. "We are out of the crisis phase of this," stated Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom. "We are not out of the woods yet, but we do think we are in a much more favorable place than we were back in the spring of 2022." This is significant progress considering the shelter previously accommodated up to 3,000 migrants.
The Randall’s Island facility was criticized for several issues, described as problematic by local advocates due to its isolated location and the challenges it posed for residents during inclement weather. This plot, located within parkland, was transformed to serve as emergency shelter—an action taken during the height of New York's migrant crisis.
Since the establishment of the Randall’s Island site, city officials have leaned on various strategies to alleviate the burden on local resources, including the implementation of 30- and 60-day limits for shelter stays. Over 210,000 migrants have passed through the city’s shelter system since the onset of the crisis, but cites have successfully transitioned about 70% of asylum seekers to subsequent stages of their journeys.
Despite the good news surrounding the closure, local officials stress the need for continued vigilance and readiness to accommodate any potential increases in migrant numbers, particularly with changes at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration's recent executive orders have contributed to this decline, introducing stricter regulations which have significantly reduced crossings.
While the Randall’s Island shelter will close, 14 other city intake sites remain operational, though there are discussions about potentially closing additional facilities if trends continue.
Advocates for asylum seekers have largely welcomed the announcement, with Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, describing it as welcome news. “We encourage the city to close other inhumane HERRCs and to make sure anyone needing it has access to safe and dignified shelter,” Awawdeh stated, pointing to the previous experiences of families at others such as Floyd Bennett Field.
Moving forward, the city aims to focus more on long-term solutions for asylum seekers, which includes securing employment and housing assistance. The city has faced criticism for not sufficiently addressing these needs even as numbers have declined.
With the Randall’s Island shelter scheduled for closure, the city also plans to restore the park spaces previously occupied by the tent facilities, which have gone unused for over 14 months. "It’s always difficult when you drive onto the island and see massive tents knowing there are thousands of souls living there," said Camille Joseph Varlack, the mayor's chief of staff.
The road to achieving sustainable solutions for the influx of asylum seekers remains uncertain, yet closure of the city’s largest migrant shelter signifies progress made over the past two years. Mayor Adams has signaled change, expressing hope for the future, stating, "We’re not scrambling every day to open new shelters — we’re talking about closing them.” With the situation still fragile, the coming months will be pivotal for both the city’s management of its resources and the well-being of the migrants currently under its care.
