The Daily Caller News Foundation has learned that a significant department within the administration of New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reached out via email to a specific group of private property owners requesting emergency space to accommodate migrants arriving in the city, as a notable border policy from the Trump era is scheduled to conclude.
The email, sent on May 9 by the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services to a private contractor, starts with the plea, “We need your help!” It states that New York City is currently facing an unparalleled humanitarian crisis and urgently requires available spaces that can be quickly utilized by the city to offer immediate assistance to asylum seekers.
This email was dispatched just days ahead of the U.S. government’s deadline, which falls on Thursday, to halt the expulsion of migrants who enter the country unlawfully under Title 42. This policy allows for the removal of foreign nationals from the U.S. during a declared “public health emergency.”
The email asks contractors to “please evaluate your inventory, both spaces you own as well as other ideas you have, and let us know if you have anything available for potential use as soon as possible.”
The message provides explicit details regarding the specific requirements for the spaces being sought. It specifies that the spaces should have a minimum size of 10,000 square feet and be enclosed within a building. Additionally, it mentions the necessity of having bathrooms, and preferably showers, although alternative arrangements can be made if showers are unavailable.
The email suggests various types of buildings that could potentially meet these requirements, such as gyms, recreation centers and dormitories. Notably, despite the city having previously housed migrants in tent shelters, the email focuses on identifying suitable spaces within buildings.
According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the policy has led to the expulsion of more than 2.7 million migrants at the southern border.
The expense incurred by taxpayers for accommodating migrants has faced significant criticism, with concerns raised by officials at the facilities regarding potential safety issues posed by the migrants to the property.
New Yorkers react to the Title 42 tidal wave about to hit NYC. pic.twitter.com/yxQZVA1kcf
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) May 11, 2023
According to the New York Post, a security official at The Roosevelt Hotel expressed concern stating, “They’re never going to want to leave.”
A report by the New York Post mentioned that the city is contemplating the possibility of establishing a migrant shelter with 1,000 rooms on the hotel property, which would amount to a cost of $225 million over a span of three years. The email also revealed that the city has been spending $8 million per day to accommodate the more than 36,500 migrants currently in their care.
