Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal probe into the financial operations of two hotels in New York City that have been used as migrant shelters. The Justice Department has issued subpoenas to the Roosevelt Hotel and the Stewart Hotel, both of which have been housing illegal immigrants amid the city’s ongoing migrant crisis.
The Roosevelt Hotel, which has processed more than 170,000 border crossers since 2023, has operated as a major intake center. The Stewart Hotel has been used strictly as a shelter. A third facility, the Hotel Chandler, has also received a subpoena, though it is reportedly only used as a homeless shelter rather than a migrant facility.
JUST IN: The DOJ is investigating the New York City hotels which were turned into migrant shelters. Billions of your tax dollars went towards housing criminal illegal aliens in luxury hotels pic.twitter.com/utl8ILdjWb
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 13, 2025
Prosecutors are requesting records related to who has stayed at these locations, including names and birthdates, along with details of financial contracts and agreements tied to the shelter program. The subpoenas suggest possible violations of federal immigration law, though specifics have not been disclosed.
New York City has allocated billions in taxpayer funds for migrant housing since 2022, with over 232,000 border crossers arriving in the city during that time. At its peak in early 2024, the city was sheltering around 69,000 migrants. That number has since declined to roughly 45,000.
The Roosevelt Hotel’s financial arrangement has raised concerns due to its ownership and funding structure. The city reportedly committed up to $220 million to lease the hotel, which is owned by Pakistan’s government. The deal was allegedly part of a larger financial package tied to an International Monetary Fund bailout for Pakistan.
Mayor Eric Adams has announced that the Roosevelt Hotel will be closing in the coming months as part of a broader effort to reduce the number of migrant shelters. His administration has stated that 53 shelters will be shut down by June.
