New York City is taking steps to push migrants out of its overwhelmed shelters by enforcing a new rule that limits some adult asylum-seekers to a month in the system before they have to find their own housing. Migrants without young children must now leave the shelters after 30 days unless they can provide proof of extenuating circumstances and receive an exemption. As of now, 192 migrants have applied for an extension, with 118 being approved, but thousands more are expected to receive eviction notices in the coming months.
One of the impacted migrants, Mamadou Diallo from Senegal, is uncertain about where he will go when his time expires at a shelter in the Bronx. Diallo is hoping for an extension as he continues his English classes and awaits approval for a work permit under federal rules. The new restrictions were put in place by Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to address the overwhelming demand on the city’s shelter system, which has been providing temporary housing to nearly 200,000 migrants since the spring of 2022.
Immigrant rights and homeless advocates are closely monitoring the eviction process, expressing concern that individuals may be denied shelter for reasons that could be appealed or due to a lack of documentation. The city shelter system currently houses about 65,000 migrants, with many being families with children. Despite criticism of the city’s increasingly restrictive migrant shelter rules, Adams defends the decision, stating that the city cannot continue to house migrants indefinitely.
Cities like Denver and Chicago are implementing their own policies for migrants, with Denver offering six-month apartment stays and job preparation programs and Chicago imposing 60-day shelter limits for adults with no renewal options. Massachusetts has also capped shelter stays for families at nine months starting in June. New York City officials emphasize the need for migrants to show efforts to resettle, such as applying for work authorization or asylum, searching for a job or apartment, or proving plans to move out of the city within 30 days.
While the changes may require adaptation, city officials are confident that they will help migrants progress to the next stage of their journeys, reduce strain on the shelter system, and continue providing essential services to all New Yorkers. The city will still consider extensions on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as work authorization, immigration-related hearings, medical procedures, and enrollment in high school. The goal is to ensure that migrants are actively working towards self-sufficiency and stability as they navigate their asylum processes in New York City.
