Emergency Executive Order No. 2.22 is a short-term extension of New York City’s ongoing state of emergency tied to the migrant crisis. The order extends the previous directive for five days, allowing the city to continue operating emergency housing facilities while developing a plan to phase out these temporary measures.
Key Facts
- Date: April 25, 2026
- Signed by: Zohran Kwame Mamdani
- Emergency in effect since: October 7, 2022
- Duration: 5-day extension
- Agencies involved:
- NYC Department of Social Services
- NYC Department of Homeless Services
- Purpose:
- Maintain Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers
- Advance a plan to phase out emergency operations
What This Order Actually Does
This executive order is not a new policy—it is a technical extension of an existing emergency framework.
Since 2022, New York City has been managing a surge in asylum seekers. To respond quickly, the city:
- Opened temporary housing centers
- Used non-traditional facilities for shelter
- Temporarily suspended or modified certain regulations
Order 2.22 does three key things:
- Extends Emergency Executive Order 2.21 by five days
- Requires agencies to update the mayor on a transition plan
- Continues temporary legal flexibility for existing facilities
Why Only a 5-Day Extension?
The city continues issuing short, rolling extensions instead of long-term orders.
This approach reflects:
- Ongoing but unstable conditions
- Legal and political constraints
- The need to finalize a structured exit strategy
In practical terms:
The emergency is still active, but the city is preparing to wind it down.
What Laws Remain Suspended
The order keeps certain provisions of the NYC Administrative Code temporarily suspended for facilities operating under the emergency.
This allows the city to:
- Open and operate shelters faster
- Bypass some standard building and compliance rules
- Maintain flexibility in housing operations
Referenced sections include:
- Section 21-309
- Section 21-312
- Section 21-124
What City Agencies Must Do Now
Under the order:
- NYC Department of Social Services
- NYC Department of Homeless Services
are required to:
- Regularly brief the mayor
- Implement an action plan
- Begin phasing out reliance on emergency facilities
Broader Context
Since 2022:
- Tens of thousands of migrants have entered NYC’s shelter system
- The city has opened hundreds of temporary sites
- Costs have reached billions of dollars
The current phase signals a shift from emergency expansion to gradual rollback.
What It Means for New Yorkers
- Emergency shelters remain operational for now
- Special regulatory exemptions continue
- The city is actively planning to reduce and close some facilities
Q&A
Q: Is this a new law?
A: No. It’s a short-term extension of an existing emergency order.
Q: Why extend it for only five days?
A: To maintain flexibility while finalizing a transition plan.
Q: When will the emergency end?
A: Once the city completes and implements its phase-out strategy.
Q: Will shelters close?
A: Gradually—this order begins that process.
Original text “Emergency Executive Order No. 2.22
April 25, 2026
WHEREAS, pursuant to a state of emergency first declared by Emergency Executive Order No. 224, dated October 7, 2022, and subsequent orders extending such state of emergency, the City has operated Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers to provide temporary housing in response to the substantial increase in new arrivals during recent years; and
WHEREAS, such orders issued prior to January 5, 2026 did not provide or require a plan for actions that would be taken to eliminate the need for the suspensions and modifications of laws and rules effected by the orders; and
WHEREAS, such state of emergency continues for the present pending the expedited development and implementation of such plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me as Mayor of the City of New York, by the laws of the State of New York and the City of New York, including but not limited to the New York Executive Law, the New York City Charter and the Administrative Code of the City of New York, and the common law authority to protect the public in the event of an emergency:
Section 1. Section 1 of Emergency Executive Order No. 2.21, dated April 20, 2026, is hereby extended for five (5) days.
§ 2. The Department of Social Services and the Department of Homeless Services, in consultation with the Law Department, shall regularly update the Mayor on the implementation action plan and efforts to phase out the continued use of facilities that have been operated in reliance on the suspensions and modifications of laws and rules.
§ 3. This Emergency Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect for five (5) days unless it is terminated or modified at an earlier date.
_________________________
Zohran Kwame Mamdani
Mayor
Appendix
List of laws and regulations for which suspension continues for any facility subject to this order, including any operated by or on behalf of DSS or DHS, and any other facility existing on the effective date of this order:
Sections 21-124. (EEO No. 886, dated November 19, 2025, § 3, para. (h)(i))”
Sections 21-309 and 21-312 of the Administrative Code. (EEO No. 886, dated November 19, 2025, § 3, para. (d) and (g))
