Assemblyman Sean Ryan says he is happy with the New York State budget and praised the $2 million included for refugee resettlement across the state.
Money will be allocated to cities based on the number of refugees settled in each location.
This funding means the 90 day resettlement assistance period is expanded to five months. This ensures a smooth transition and better support so refugees can find jobs and homes, learn the language and become more integrated into their local communities.
Local leaders say Western New York will continue to accept refugees, despite President Donald Trump's proposed travel bans.
"The message was clear," said Assemblyman Ryan. "We need to invest in refugee resettlement. It's the right thing to do. It's the humanitarian thing to do and its the smart economic thing to do."
"This is what we do in this community," said Mayor Byron Brown. "That is never, ever going to change no matter what they say in Washington, D.C."
Last year, Erie County alone received 36% of the state's resettled refugee population.
The budget also includes $10 million to give legal assistance to immigrants across the state. This includes detainees at the detention center in Batavia.
