NYC Implements Stricter Regulations on Migrants in City Shelters
NEW YORK – In response to New York City’s escalating immigration crisis, Mayor Eric Adams has announced a decree to enforce tighter regulations on migrants seeking shelter within the city.
The decree, announced on Friday, entails an agreement between the city and the Legal Aid Society to limit the duration of stay for adult migrants in the shelter system to approximately one month, deviating from the previous allowances under the 1981 right-to-shelter law.
Mayor Adams highlighted the city’s burden in managing a national humanitarian crisis, accommodating approximately 183,000 new arrivals over the past two years—a figure surpassing the population of many U.S. cities.
“We have been clear since day one that the ‘Right To Shelter’ was never intended to apply to large-scale migrant populations arriving without housing or legal work status in such a short period of time,” Mayor Adams asserted.
Under the newly established rule, migrants will be required to vacate shelters after 30 days, with limited opportunities for reapplication, except for cases involving medical conditions or extenuating circumstances. Those under 23 years old will have up to 60 days in the shelter system, while migrant families will remain unaffected.
Throughout the Adams administration, the city has witnessed the emergence of shelter systems in various forms, including tent cities and repurposed hotels, to accommodate the 65,000 migrants relying on city services.
Mayor Adams had previously warned of the imminent threat posed by the migrant crisis, stating that it could potentially bring ruin to New York City, with an influx of approximately 10,000 migrants monthly.
The implementation of stricter regulations on migrants seeking shelter reflects the city’s efforts to manage the ongoing immigration crisis and allocate resources effectively amidst budget constraints.