Activists and elected officials gathered outside the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul in Albany on Monday to protest the closure of two hotels currently housing hundreds of migrants in the state’s capital region. The Ramada Plaza and Holiday Inn Express, both funded by the New York City government, are set to shut down by the end of the month, leaving many of the migrants facing eviction. The protest organizers urged the Governor to step in and prevent the evictions, calling for emergency state funding to provide continued shelter and support services for the migrants.
During the rally, Angelica Perez-Delgado, president of the Ibero-American Action League, emphasized the need for leadership and resources to support the migrants. “Our need right now is to ensure that people in our hotels are not evicted. We need leadership and money from Gov. Hochul right now to fund at least six months of housing and related services,” Perez-Delgado stated.
New York City has a “right to shelter” law, which mandates that the city must provide shelter to anyone in need. However, with the influx of over 58,000 migrants, the city is struggling to maintain adequate housing. A recent report by the New York City Comptroller’s Office estimates that the city will spend nearly $12 billion by 2025 to manage the ongoing migrant crisis.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has supported efforts to reduce the city’s spending on migrant services, including the closure of hotels-turned-shelters like the Hotel Merit in Manhattan and the Quality Inn in Queens. However, local nonprofits argue that these migrants have become valuable members of the community, contributing to the economy, culture, and essential services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As winter approaches, advocates like Bryan McCormack, co-executive director of the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, stress the urgency of finding long-term housing solutions for migrant families. McCormack argued that these individuals have already established lives in the region, with jobs and community ties, and should not be uprooted. He also expressed concerns that New York City’s handling of the migrant situation has been poorly managed.
On the other hand, some state lawmakers, including Assembly member Matt Slater, have voiced strong opposition to further taxpayer-funded support for migrants, especially those who are in the country illegally. A Siena poll found that a majority of New York voters support efforts to deport illegal immigrants, adding to the political pressure on Governor Hochul and local officials to reevaluate the current approach to migrant housing.
With the situation growing more dire, both supporters of the migrants and their critics await the next steps from New York’s leadership.