New York City has terminated a $220 million deal with the Pakistan government-owned Roosevelt Hotel, which had been operating as a shelter for migrants.
It is believed that the decision was taken after pressure from Donald Trump and MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters, who were protesting against accommodating illegal immigrants with American taxpayers’ money.
Mayor Eric Adams canceled the deal under pressure from Trump. In fact, the Roosevelt Hotel was opened to immigrants in May 2023, with 1,025 rooms, with rent of $200 per night. The hotel is owned by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which fully acquired it in 2005.
Eric Adams wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Today, we announced we will begin the process of closing down The Roosevelt Hotel’s Asylum Arrival Center and Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center. Here’s what to know:”
Today, we announced we will begin the process of closing down The Roosevelt Hotel’s Asylum Arrival Center and Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center.
Here’s what to know: pic.twitter.com/l1NKtCNElC
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) February 24, 2025
When more than 4,000 migrants were reaching NYC every week, pictures of migrants camping outside the hotel intensified the protest. Donald Trump and his supporters accused the Democrats of housing illegal immigrants in luxury hotels. MAGA chief Vivek Ramaswamy wrote, “A taxpayer-funded hotel for illegal migrants is owned by the Pakistani government which means NYC taxpayers are effectively paying a foreign government to house illegals in our own country. This is nuts.”
A taxpayer-funded hotel for illegal migrants is owned by the Pakistani government which means NYC taxpayers are effectively paying a foreign government to house illegals in our own country. This is nuts. https://t.co/Oy4Z9qoX45
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 1, 2024
Trump accused the Biden administration of paying $59 million to a secret hotel in New York. Elon Musk, a close aide of Trump, said, “The city was paying twice the normal rate for rooms for immigrants.” The Trump administration froze $80 million in FEMA funds for NYC.
