New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday that migrant families staying in city shelters will now be required to leave after 60 days and reapply for placement. The new rule, set to take effect next week, is the administration's latest attempt to reduce the strain on resources caused by the influx of more than 64,000 migrants currently in the shelter system.

According to a statement released by the administration, families with children seeking asylum will be given 60 days' notice to find alternative housing. The city will also provide intensified casework services to help them explore other housing options. The notices will be given out on a rolling basis, starting with families who have been in the system the longest.

Critics have expressed concerns about the impact this new rule will have on migrant education and medical care. The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless have issued a joint statement, stating that the policy could disrupt access to education and cause chaos for school administrators. They are also concerned about access to medical care and other vital services.

The new rule is likely to displace tens of thousands of homeless migrant children who are currently enrolled in the city's public school system. Additionally, families may be forced to relocate to another shelter that is not near their children's school, creating further difficulties.

As part of the change in policy, the city plans to open a new shelter site at Floyd Bennett Field in the coming weeks. The facility, located in Brooklyn, will house approximately 500 families with children seeking asylum. It will provide a semi-congregate setting with privacy dividers and locks.

This is not the first time the Adams administration has implemented restrictions on migrant stays in city-run shelters. Last month, the city imposed a rule requiring migrant adults to leave the shelter system after 30 days. They are then sent to the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, where they must reapply for shelter.

However, the city's efforts to manage the influx of migrants have faced criticism. Advocates have warned that the city is pushing the limits of the law and litigation could follow. Emergency orders issued by the city have allowed it to bypass several rules and laws governing the management of homeless shelter populations. This includes guarantees of access to stoves and private bathrooms, clean linens, and properly spaced beds.

Mayor Adams has justified the new rule by citing the need to help migrants take the next steps on their journeys. He estimates that the city will spend $12 billion over the next three years to handle the influx of migrants. Adams has also sought to discourage people from coming to New York by highlighting the overwhelmed state of the shelter system during a recent trip to Latin America.