Over 100 families who sought asylum in the U.S. have vacated a local hotel where they have been staying since 2023, according to the city.The families are moving into permanent housing or to shelters operated by the New York City Department of Homeless Services, Mayor Mike Spano announced this week.
The families had been staying at the Ramada by Wyndham at 125 Tuckahoe Rd. after arriving in May 2023.
Their departure comes after a legal battle between the city and the hotel. The city had asserted the hotel was violating city codes and its certificate of occupancy, which prohibits non-transient residences, according to Spano.
“We decided to take legal action against the hotel to pay for lost revenue and violations against our local laws,” Spano said.
The city and Ramada reached a settlement for the asylum seekers to vacate the hotel. Under the terms, Ramada has paid the city $515,000 in penalties, according to Spano.
He said this amount exceeds the city’s estimated loss of hotel tax revenue for the 20-month period when the asylum seekers were staying there.
“I am pleased that through our partnerships with local non-for-profits and social services, these families now can continue their journey in seeking asylum in our country,” Spano said.
Ramada by Wyndham did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
