New York City signs $220 million lease for hotel to house migrants owned by Pakistan International Airlines

New York City has signed a $220 million lease for the Roosevelt Hotel, owned by Pakistan International Airlines, to house undocumented migrants. The hotel, closed since 2020, reopened this year under the three-year agreement, part of a $1.1 billion IMF bailout for Pakistan. Critics, including Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, have condemned the deal, arguing it uses taxpayer money to support a foreign government. Ramaswamy highlighted that NYC taxpayers are effectively funding the accommodation of migrants in a hotel owned by Pakistan. The lease is expected to generate significant revenue for Pakistan, which is facing economic challenges. The hotel will revert to the Pakistani government after the lease term ends.