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Tag: New York City
March 13, 2025
Corruption
Crime
Immigration

Trump DOJ Investigates NYC Illegal Immigrant Hotels for Criminal Activity.

President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas to two New York City hotels that were converted into aid centers and shelters for illegal immigrants. The subpoenas order the infamous Roosevelt Hotel and the Stewart Hotel to provide federal prosecutors with the names of individuals, contractors, and other entities that oversaw the “funding and management of the illegal immigrant/migrant shelter program.” Additionally, the DOJ is seeking the names and other identifying information of the individuals who stayed at both hotels.

In addition to the Roosevelt Hotel and the Stewart Hotel, the Hotel Chandler also received a DOJ subpoena. While the Hotel Chandler is being operated ostensibly as a homeless shelter, it appears federal prosecutors believe the facility has either housed illegal immigrants in the past or is connected financially to the other two hotels.

The DOJ investigation is centered on suspected violations of federal immigration law and is explicitly directed at the hotels and their operators rather than New York City government officials. Since its conversion to an aid center and shelter in May 2023, the Roosevelt Hotel alone has processed 173,000 illegal immigrants. In exchange for serving as a shelter, the New York City government agreed to pay up to $220 million to the hotel, which is owned by the Pakistani government, as part of a larger financial arrangement involving an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package.

Currently, the city provides shelter and assistance to around 45,000 illegal immigrants—down from a peak of around 70,000 in January last year. Notably, Mayor Eric Adams testified before Congress that his city has spent nearly $7 billion on housing and feeding an estimated 232,000 illegal immigrants since 2022.

The National Pulse reported in late February that Adams announced that the city is moving to shut down the Roosevelt Hotel shelter facility.

Image by Billy Hathorn.

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President Donald J. Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas to two New York City hotels that were converted into aid centers and shelters for illegal immigrants. The subpoenas order the infamous Roosevelt Hotel and the Stewart Hotel to provide federal prosecutors with the names of individuals, contractors, and other entities that oversaw the "funding and management of the illegal immigrant/migrant shelter program." Additionally, the DOJ is seeking the names and other identifying information of the individuals who stayed at both hotels. show more
March 11, 2025
Immigration
Lawfare
Politics

Judge Halts Deportation of Pro-Hamas Activist Following Arrest by ICE.

A federal judge has blocked the deportation of a pro-Palestine activist recently arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of Columbia University, was arrested on Saturday, March 8. However, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation, stating that he would be able to stay in the United States while the court considered a habeas corpus challenge to his arrest.

“To preserve the Court’s jurisdiction pending a ruling on the petition, Petitioner shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court orders otherwise,” Judge Furman wrote in his order blocking separation proceedings issued late Monday. A conference hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12.

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesman stated that Khalil was arrested due to his activist activities, which are said to be both antisemitic and aligned with the terror group Hamas. Khalil was one of the organizers of pro-Palestine protests last spring at Columbia University.

On March 10, hundreds gathered in New York City to protest the arrest of Khalil and demanded his release. More protests are scheduled to take place over the coming days.

President Donald J. Trump commented on Khalil’s arrest on Monday, saying, “We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country—never to return again. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here.”

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A federal judge has blocked the deportation of a pro-Palestine activist recently arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of Columbia University, was arrested on Saturday, March 8. However, U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman temporarily blocked Khalil's deportation, stating that he would be able to stay in the United States while the court considered a habeas corpus challenge to his arrest. show more
March 6, 2025
Crime
Immigration
News

Sanctuary Laws Protect Migrant Who Burned Woman Alive from ICE.

An illegal alien who has been charged with setting a woman on fire while she was sleeping on a New York City subway is being protected from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by state sanctuary laws. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national, is accused of setting Debrina Kawam, 57, on fire and killing her last year.

Zapeta-Calil has been charged with murder and arson following the December 22 incident at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station. After allegedly setting Kawam aflame, Zapeta-Calil reportedly fanned the blaze with a shirt to intensify it before observing the scene from a platform bench.

Due to New York City’s sanctuary city policies, the Department of Corrections has not honored an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for Zapeta-Calil.

ICE reports that Zapeta-Calil entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 and was subsequently deported, but re-entered the country at an unspecified time. Before his arrest, he was residing in a Brooklyn shelter and working as a roofer.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has urged Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to suspend sanctuary protections immediately. Mayor Eric Adams has also called for collaboration between the NYPD and ICE, requesting federal prosecutors charge Zapeta-Calil in addition to state charges.

Zapeta-Calil has entered a plea of not guilty.

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An illegal alien who has been charged with setting a woman on fire while she was sleeping on a New York City subway is being protected from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by state sanctuary laws. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national, is accused of setting Debrina Kawam, 57, on fire and killing her last year. show more
March 4, 2025
Immigration

NYC Eases ID Card Rules for Illegal Aliens Despite Mayor Adams’s Pledge to Support Trump’s Deportations.

In an effort spearheaded by Mayor Eric Adams, New York City has expanded the types of documentation that can be used to apply for its municipal residency ID card, IDNYC. The new rules increase the variety of documents that immigrants, including those without legal status, can present to prove city residency.

The program is intended to assist individuals in accessing services such as housing and healthcare. The change permits the use of 23 additional forms of identification, including expired driver’s licenses and prior documents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Prisons.

First introduced in 2015 under the Bill de Blasio administration, IDNYC was designed to provide all New Yorkers, from age 10 onwards, with identification that facilitates better access to city services. Access to IDNYC has been expanded as a response to the ongoing migrant influx, with over 1.7 million cards issued since its inception.

However, the IDNYC program has faced ongoing criticism from the public and federal lawmakers like Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), who argues that it undermines federal immigration law and presents security concerns. Critics express apprehension about the absence of thorough vetting processes and the potential destruction of documentation that could aid investigations.

City officials plan to hold a public hearing on March 28 to address any adjustments needed for the ID program.

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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In an effort spearheaded by Mayor Eric Adams, New York City has expanded the types of documentation that can be used to apply for its municipal residency ID card, IDNYC. The new rules increase the variety of documents that immigrants, including those without legal status, can present to prove city residency. show more
February 24, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Mayor Eric Adams Moves to Shut Down Infamous NYC Hotel Used to House Illegal Immigrants.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced the closure of the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center at the Roosevelt Hotel, which will wind down operations for the next several months. The hotel, with roughly 1,000 rooms, has been operating as a housing shelter and processing center for illegal immigrant asylum seekers since May 2023 as unlawful border crossings surged under former President Joe Biden.

The Manhattan-based hotel turned illegal immigrant processing center has facilitated the registration of over 173,000 migrants, representing nearly three-quarters of the 232,000 migrants who entered New York City since spring 2022, according to Mayor Adams’s office.

“Today we are announcing the Roosevelt Hotel, which served as both our asylum arrivals center and the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center for nearly two years, will be closing in the coming months thanks to the successful strategies we put in place here in New York City,” Mayor Adams said in a video announcing the closure. He added: “The Roosevelt Hotel was opened in May 2023 during the height of the crisis, with the city receiving an average of 4,000 arrivals each week. Now, thanks to our policies, we’re down to an average of just 350 new arrivals each week.”

The closure is part of a broader plan to shut down 53 emergency shelter sites by June, as the number of migrants under city care has fallen from a peak of 69,000 to under 45,000. However, the move also appears spurred by the Trump administration’s seizure of $59 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds that had been funneled to several New York City hotels operating as shelters.

Notably, the Roosevelt Hotel briefly hosted illegal Venezuelan immigrant Jose Ibarra, who, after later obtaining a humanitarian flight to Atlanta, Georgia, murdered nursing student Laken Riley.

WATCH: 

Image by Billy Hathorn.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced the closure of the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center at the Roosevelt Hotel, which will wind down operations for the next several months. The hotel, with roughly 1,000 rooms, has been operating as a housing shelter and processing center for illegal immigrant asylum seekers since May 2023 as unlawful border crossings surged under former President Joe Biden. show more
February 21, 2025
William Upton
Breaking

BREAKING: Judge Won’t Dismiss Charges Against NY Mayor Eric Adams.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Ho ruled on Friday that he will not—for now—dismiss the federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. President Donald J. Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed to drop its prosecution against Adams, which includes one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of wire fraud, two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe.

According to Judge Ho, the case, as it currently stands, will be adjourned until further notice. In the meantime, the District Court is appointing Paul Clement of Clement & Murphy PLLC—a noted conservative litigator—to challenge the Trump administration’s motion to dismiss the charges. Another hearing on the matter has been scheduled for next month, where—should the government prevail—the case could still be dismissed. Notably, the Trump DOJ contends the prosecution could restrict Adams’s ability to perform his duties as mayor and assist in ongoing immigration enforcement actions.

Adams was indicted last September and faces allegations that he knowingly solicited campaign contributions from Turkish foreign nationals beginning in 2018 in the lead-up to his 2021 run for mayor. At the time, federal prosecutors alleged that Adams and his campaign conspired to hide the illegal contributions through straw donors and fake paper trails, concealing the criminal activity. In exchange for financial support from representatives of the Turkish government, Adams allegedly pressured officials in the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to approve Turkey’s consulate building in Manhattan, despite safety issues.

Image by Marc A. Hermann / MTA.

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U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Ho ruled on Friday that he will not—for now—dismiss the federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. President Donald J. Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed to drop its prosecution against Adams, which includes one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of wire fraud, two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe. show more
February 19, 2025
William Upton
Politics

NYC Mayor Adams Back in Court as DOJ Seeks to Dismiss Corruption Charges.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was back in federal court on Wednesday, where a federal judge scrutinized a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to drop charges against him. Adams and federal prosecutors faced a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Dale E. Ho, who was appointed to the bench by former President Joe Biden.

Judge Ho did not rule on the DOJ motion to dismiss the charges against Adams, which include one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of wire fraud, two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe. However, the judge did hear arguments from DOJ attorneys and set out a “procedure for resolution of the motion.”

Adams was indicted last September and faces allegations that he knowingly solicited campaign contributions from Turkish foreign nationals beginning in 2018 in the lead-up to his 2021 run for mayor. At the time, federal prosecutors alleged that Adams and his campaign conspired to hide the illegal contributions through straw donors and fake paper trails, concealing the criminal activity. In exchange for financial support from representatives of the Turkish government, Adams allegedly pressured officials in the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to approve Turkey’s consulate building in Manhattan, despite safety issues.

While most national Democratic Party leaders now claim Adams should resign or be removed from office—mostly due to his support for President Donald J. Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown—that was not the case at the time of his indictment. For instance, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) argued in October that Adams should continue as mayor and is entitled to a presumption of innocence.

Image by Marc A. Hermann / MTA.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams was back in federal court on Wednesday, where a federal judge scrutinized a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to drop charges against him. Adams and federal prosecutors faced a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Dale E. Ho, who was appointed to the bench by former President Joe Biden. show more
February 11, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Corruption

Justice Department Drops Charges Against NYC Mayor, Citing Interference with Immigration Crackdown.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed federal prosecutors to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, asserting that the legal action hinders his ability to support President Donald J. Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove is ordering an immediate end to the bribery case against the Democrat mayor.

Bove emphasizes that the decision to drop the charges is not motivated by any perceived weakness in the case but by its timing—coming too close to Adams’ reelection campaign—and its impact on his capacity to address administration priorities. “The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote.

The memo instructs New York prosecutors to halt any additional investigative actions against Adams until after the November mayoral election. However, it leaves the door ajar for potential charges to be refiled post-election.

Adams’s attorney, Alex Spiro, hailed the decision as a vindication. “Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them,” Spiro suggested.

The charges against Adams, filed in September, accused him of accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel perks exceeding $100,000—such as flight upgrades, opulent hotel stays, and a bathhouse visit—while he served as Brooklyn Borough President. Prosecutors alleged that a Turkish official who facilitated these trips later pressured Adams to influence the Fire Department to approve a new diplomatic building’s opening for a visit by Turkey’s president.

It was also alleged that Adams directed campaign staff to solicit and disguise foreign donations to exploit a city program matching small contributions with public funds, violating federal laws prohibiting foreign contributions to U.S. campaigns.

Image by Anthony Quintano.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed federal prosecutors to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, asserting that the legal action hinders his ability to support President Donald J. Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove is ordering an immediate end to the bribery case against the Democrat mayor. show more
February 11, 2025
William Upton
Corruption
Immigration

DHS Fires FOUR Employees for Funneling Money to NYC Migrant Hotels in Violation of Trump EO.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it has fired four employees responsible for funneling $59 million to several New York City hotels to house illegal immigrants in contravention of an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump. Whether all four employees were with DHS or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unclear.

Yesterday, The National Pulse reported that DHS said it would fire the individual—or individuals—responsible for paying $59 million to New York City for illegal immigrant housing. “Individuals who circumvented leadership and unilaterally made this payment will be fired and held accountable,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, responding to revelations of the payments posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk.

Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered the payments early Monday, with the SpaceX chief posting on X: “The DOGE team just discovered that FEMA sent $59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.”

“Sending this money violated the law and is in gross insubordination to the President’s executive order,” Musk continued, adding: “That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high end hotels for illegals!”

“A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds,” Musk concluded.

According to New York City, the $59 million was part of funding authorized under the Biden government for the housing of illegal immigrants and other support. Of the total, $19 million was directly spent on hotel and housing costs, while the remainder covered food, clothing, and building security.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it has fired four employees responsible for funneling $59 million to several New York City hotels to house illegal immigrants in contravention of an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump. Whether all four employees were with DHS or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unclear. show more
February 10, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Politics

DHS Says FEMA Workers Who Violate Trump Order Suspending Migrant Hotel Funding Will Be Fired.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it will fire the individual—or individuals—responsible for paying $59 million to New York City for illegal immigrant housing in contravention of an executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump. According to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which revealed the illegal payments on Monday, one of the hotels receiving the FEMA money is the Roosevelt Hotel, which the Pakistani government owns through the state-run Pakistani Airlines.

“Individuals who circumvented leadership and unilaterally made this payment will be fired and held accountable,” DHS spokesman Tricia McLaughlin said, responding to the revelations posted on X (formerly Twitter) by DOGE chief Elon Musk.

The money given by FEMA is just a small percentage of the overall cash spent to house migrants in luxury New York City hotels. According to reports last July, hotel bosses in the city have amassed over a billion dollars by converting their properties into migrant shelters.

In total, New York City has spent over $4.8 billion on the illegal migrant influx, with just under $2 billion spent on housing.

DOGE, under Musk’s direction, has spearheaded an effort to identify and cut $2 trillion from the $7 trillion federal budget. So far, the agency’s work has resulted in an order placing nearly all USAID staff on leave and a buyout offer, authorized by President Trump, to all federal workers granting several months of paid leave in exchange for their voluntary resignation.

Image by Bill Koplitz.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it will fire the individual—or individuals—responsible for paying $59 million to New York City for illegal immigrant housing in contravention of an executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump. According to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which revealed the illegal payments on Monday, one of the hotels receiving the FEMA money is the Roosevelt Hotel, which the Pakistani government owns through the state-run Pakistani Airlines. show more