Justice Department Investigates NYC Migrant Shelters Over Alleged Immigration Law Violations

Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas to hotels used as migrant shelters, seeking records on funding, operations, and resident information.

The U.S. Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into two Manhattan hotels, the Roosevelt Hotel and the Stewart Hotel, which are being used as migrant shelters.
Subpoenas issued by federal prosecutors request details on the funding, management, and contracts of the migrant shelter programs, as well as the names and identifying information of residents.
The investigation also includes the Hotel Chandler, which operates as a homeless shelter, but the specific scope of this inquiry remains unclear.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has not commented on the investigation; the Roosevelt Hotel, a key intake center, is slated for closure by June 2025.
Since 2022, New York City has spent billions to house over 232,000 migrants, with the Roosevelt Hotel alone processing 173,000 individuals since May 2023.