A growing controversy has emerged after a Jackson Hewitt employee was seen helping illegal immigrants at a New York City shelter apply for tax refunds without confirming employment. The incident was reported by Savanah Hernandez, who recorded the encounter outside the Roosevelt Hotel.
The employee gave Hernandez a flyer in Spanish advertising tax services. It stated, “Working or not, file your taxes,” and claimed those with three children could receive more than $14,000. The flyer also listed refund estimates based on dependents, topping out at $14,255.
🚨 BREAKING: Employees of Jackson-Hewitt, a tax services company, were handing out flyers to illegal immigrants lined up outside of the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC, which is famous for housing migrants on the taxpayer's dime.
The flyer indicates that illegal immigrants can get up to… pic.twitter.com/w56w7oZ1BN
— FRONTLINES (@FrontlinesTPUSA) March 29, 2025
When Hernandez asked whether the company was helping illegal immigrants file tax returns, the employee confirmed it. A second worker at the table said they provide the same service at other shelters throughout the city.
After realizing Hernandez was a journalist, the employee quickly retrieved the flyer. Hernandez posted the video online, raising questions about whether migrants are being coached to abuse tax credits and obtain improper refunds.
The Roosevelt Hotel, a longtime landmark in Manhattan, was repurposed into a migrant shelter following the 2020 pandemic shutdown. It has served as one of the largest intake centers for migrants, many of whom have entered the U.S. illegally. The city now plans to close the hotel in June.
Despite that closure, migrant housing continues to expand elsewhere. A new shelter with thousands of beds recently opened in the Bronx, adding to the city’s sprawling network of emergency housing sites for illegal immigrants.
Elon Musk, who now oversees the Department of Government Efficiency, responded sharply to Hernandez’s report. He alleged that such practices are part of a broader political effort to gain votes and control through illegal immigration and fraudulent tax payments.
According to city records, New York has spent approximately $7 billion managing the migrant crisis since 2022. Additional funding will be needed if the surge continues into 2025.
