A sudden federal raid outside the Row Hotel migrant shelter in Midtown Manhattan on Monday morning sent waves of panic through both migrants and nearby residents. The operation, reportedly conducted by a joint task force involving federal immigration officers and local law enforcement, unfolded just after dawn near 8th Avenue, temporarily shutting down parts of the bustling area.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with unmarked vehicles and heavily armed officers blocking the surrounding streets. Migrants staying at the shelter, which has served as one of New York City’s main housing sites for asylum seekers, said they were caught completely off guard as agents began detaining several individuals outside the hotel entrance.
Confusion and Fear Among Shelter Residents
The Row Hotel, once a tourist landmark near Times Square, has in the past year become a central point in the city’s migrant housing efforts. Housing thousands of asylum seekers from countries including Venezuela, Ecuador, and Haiti, it has often faced public scrutiny, management challenges, and political controversy.
Monday’s raid, however, introduced a new layer of fear for those living there. According to several residents, no advance notice was given about the federal presence. Some migrants reportedly avoided leaving the shelter for much of the day, fearing further arrests or deportation actions…