A criminal probe has been launched into two New York City hotels operating as migrant shelters, with federal prosecutors investigating possible violations of immigration law. The Department of Justice has sent subpoenas to the Roosevelt Hotel and the Stewart Hotel, both of which have been used to house illegal immigrants.
The Roosevelt Hotel, a key processing center since 2023, has reportedly handled more than 170,000 migrants. The Stewart Hotel has been used exclusively as a shelter. Prosecutors also subpoenaed the Hotel Chandler, which is reportedly being 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
The subpoenas request details on individuals staying at the hotels, as well as contracts and financial records tied to their operations. Federal officials are investigating potential legal violations related to how the migrant housing program has been managed.
New York City has allocated significant taxpayer funds to house illegal immigrants, with total spending in the billions since 2022. More than 232,000 border crossers have arrived in the city, with the peak number in shelters reaching 69,000 in early 2024. That number has since dropped to around 45,000.
The Roosevelt Hotel’s role in the migrant crisis has raised concerns, especially due to its ownership and financial arrangements. Reports indicate the city agreed to pay up to $220 million to use the facility, which is owned by Pakistan’s government. The deal was reportedly linked to an International Monetary Fund bailout package aimed at stabilizing Pakistan’s economy.
Mayor Eric Adams has remained silent on the DOJ’s investigation but has confirmed that the Roosevelt Hotel will be closing in the coming months. The facility is one of 53 shelters set to shut down by June as the city restructures its migrant housing efforts.
The federal investigation follows a report revealing that FEMA provided $59 million for migrant housing in high-end New York City hotels, contradicting previous statements from the Biden administration that such funding was not being used for illegal immigrant accommodations.
