A 2,200-bed migrant shelter for single men will be opened in the Bronx, New York.

Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres criticized New York Mayor Eric Adams' decision to open a 2,000-bed migrant shelter in the South Bronx, arguing that the borough is being used as an immigrant "dumping ground."

Last week, the mayor's office unveiled a new shelter while asserting that the ongoing migrant crisis in New York City is decreasing.

New York is a migrant sanctuary city and has a "right to shelter" law that requires the city to accommodate anyone seeking shelter who has no other option. However, in recent months, Mayor Adams has taken a different tone toward immigrants in the city and announced the closure of a string of migrant shelters. In last week's statement, Adams said the closures are part of the city’s efforts to find "more opportunities to save taxpayer money and turn the page on this unprecedented humanitarian crisis."

The city's asylum seeker management strategies and federal border policy changes, advocated for by the administration, have resulted in a 27-week decrease in the number of people in the city's care and a cost reduction of nearly $2.8 billion over three fiscal years, according to the mayor's office.

The cost of retrofitting and preparing a 275,000-square-foot former office building in the Bronx for a new migrant shelter is estimated to be between $250,000 and $340,000.

The renovated shelter located at 825 E. 141st St. is near "the Hub," a notorious area in the Bronx known for its high volume of drug use and activity, including heroin and fentanyl. The building is owned by SoBro Local Development Corp., a nonprofit that aims to improve the quality of life in the South Bronx through business strengthening and innovative programs for youth and adults.

The Bronx community was not pleased with Adams' announcement. The city's migrant shelters have gained notoriety as hubs for violence, crime, and gang activity, as reported by the New York Post. One 21-year-old Bronx resident, Serene Bilal, expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, "This is a mistake! You need to collaborate with the people who are already here. We have our own problems. Why target the Bronx? Why single out the Bronx?"

"Bilal informed the outlet that it would be dangerous as they didn't know the identities of the people involved. The number of people in question was not 10, but thousands, which was a significant concern."

Torres, who is reportedly mulling a bid for New York governor, also criticized the choice to put the new shelter in the Bronx.

The City is treating the South Bronx as a dumping ground for an endless stream of shelters instead of decisively dismantling open-air drug markets in the Hub, according to Torres.

"The Bronx is viewed differently from the rest of the city," he continued. "We are perceived as the inferior borough of New York City."

Adams' office did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.

Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.