Demonstrations unfolded outside the New York State Capitol in Albany on Monday, with activists and elected officials urging Governor Kathy Hochul to prevent the imminent closure of two hotels currently accommodating roughly 300 migrants. The protesters are demanding Hochul's intervention to halt the evictions and secure additional state funding for migrant housing.
Angelica Perez-Delgado, leading the Ibero-American Action League, emphasized the urgent need for financial support from the Governor, requesting at least six months of funding for housing and essential services to prevent the displacement of these vulnerable individuals.
The affected hotels, a Ramada Plaza and a Holiday Inn Express, are currently funded by New York City but face closure this month. These 300 migrants represent a small portion of the over 58,000 individuals sheltered by the city, with more than 223,000 receiving taxpayer assistance since 2022. A report from the New York City Comptroller’s Office projects a two-year expenditure of $987 million on contracted hotels for migrants, contributing to a total estimated cost exceeding $12 billion through fiscal 2025.
Following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, New York City has initiated a scaling back of its shelter program, aiming to close approximately 12 shelters by year's end. Mayor Eric Adams has spearheaded these efforts, citing the need to curb taxpayer spending. Two hotels repurposed as migrant shelters, the Hotel Merit in Manhattan and the Quality Inn JFK in Queens, have already been shut down, with eight additional closures planned across various counties.
The Columbia County Sanctuary Movement and a coalition of nonprofits organized the protest against these closures. Bryan McCormack, co-executive director of the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, argued against disrupting the migrants' established lives and employment within these communities.
McCormack stressed the urgency of finding shelter for the migrants as winter approaches and criticized New York City's handling of the situation. He highlighted the migrants' contributions to local communities and economies, advocating for their full integration.
In contrast, Assembly member Matt Slater deemed the protesters' views out of sync with public sentiment, citing a recent Siena poll showing majority support for Trump's deportation efforts. He criticized the use of taxpayer money to incentivize illegal immigration and called for an end to such policies.
Slater expressed hope for the Trump administration's border policies but emphasized the need for state and city governments to address the situation responsibly. He pointed to the $4.3 billion allocated in the state budget for migrant services and condemned the use of public funds to encourage illegal immigration.
