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A national hotel chain has been forced to pay the city of Yonkers $515,000 for stashing dozens of migrants in a 103-room local Ramada — and leaving them there for nearly two years.

The hefty settlement by Ramada by Wyndham ends a lawsuit filed by Yonkers officials claiming the extended migrant stay violated city zoning codes by turning the hotel into an illegal longterm shelter.

“While the City of Yonkers was not initially notified by New York City of the asylum seekers’ arrival two years ago, we have since supported these families,” Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said in a release.

The Ramada by Wyndham in Yonkers took in more than 100 migrants in 2023 — and stayed for nearly two years. G.N.Miller/NYPost

“Their transition to alternate housing is the result of the hotel’s irresponsible refusal to adhere to Yonkers’ local zoning, housing and fire ordinances, which placed many of the hotel’s residents in danger.”

Thousands of migrants flooding into New York City from the US border since 2022 were placed in shelters and hotels throughout the city, as well as upstate New York, including Yonkers, and on Long Island.

But Yonkers officials said the 125 migrants placed in the Ramada by Wyndham on Tuckahoe Road in May 2023 by New York City were supposed to only be there temporarily — but stayed for 20 months.

According to a report by lohud.com, the Ramada was renamed Plaza Esperanza while serving as a migrant shelter, with the number of asylum seekers staying there topping off at more than 200.

The number began to shrink last year and bottomed out at about 75 last month, the outlet said.

Still, the city sued the hotel chain — and finally got the settlement.


Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said he supports asylum seekers, but they overstayed their welcome at a local Ramada. Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

 “As a result, we decided to take legal action against the hotel to pay for lost revenue and violations against our local laws,” Spano said. “Through a settlement with Ramada, the residents have now vacated without disruption.

“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,” the mayor said.

The migrants were relocated by the New York City Department of Homeless Services.

Reps for the hotel chain did not respond to a request for comment on the settlement.

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