BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — Governor Kathy Hochul, while appearing in Buffalo Friday, said there are more than 71,000 migrants and asylum seekers coming from the southern border into New York State now that Title 42 has ended.
Governor Hochul is trying to figure out where to house all those migrating into the state.
“At this point, we're working very hard to deal with what is a crisis situation,” declared Governor Hochul.
Governor Hochul says there is an "enormous influx" of migrants pouring into New York and New York City is running out of space to house them as New York City is declared a sanctuary city.
“In the City of New York, they are bursting at the seams. They started having to put them in school gymnasiums, and there's a lot of anxiety around this. But to me, we have a large state, we need to do it in the right way, a way that we work closely with the local officials," Hochul noted.
But here in Western New York counties, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming have declared 'states of emergency' saying they can't handle the influx because they're already facing housing issues. This temporarily blocks New York City from busing migrants to their counties.
I asked Governor Hochul about this.
“And more help is needed, so we're working closely with them, literally hour by hour, trying to identify places where they are welcoming communities. And we're working also very hard to make sure that we can get some legal work status that will allow them to go work on the farms and upstate and work in the hotels and work in the restaurants. And I think when we get to that point, it'll change people's attitudes about it rather dramatically,” replied Hochul.
And just as SUNY Buffalo State students are moving out of their dorms, Governor Hochul says she is considering one option is to house migrants temporarily on SUNY campuses, but right now she's not naming locations.
“If they need them, they need ‘em — it's getting put to good use so,” remarked Aaron Johnson, Albany resident, Buffalo State student.
Johnson was moving out of his campus dorm Friday and tells me he has no problem with migrants being temporarily housed on campuses.
“It sounds like they're using it for good. I mean people need these dorms. People need housing and — think it's kind of good, as long as families sticking together and getting the help they need — I'm happy,” replied Johnson.
But State Senator George Borrello says housing migrants on SUNY campuses is "a reckless idea".
In a statement, he says he does not believe the governor when she says housing migrants at SUNY campuses would be a temporary solution.
Governor Hochul says right now she's reviewing options while noting it would not cost local communities.
“This is simply allowing them to be welcome, whether it's in a hotel, if it is a campus, and the money follows them. The money will cover the costs of all the services they will need. I think a lot of people don't know that yet, they assume that will be borne by the local community. That's not the case here — it's a different dynamic,” stated Hochul.
The following statement was released Saturday morning by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz:
"A number of New York counties have recently declared states of emergencies regarding the possibility that asylum seekers - persons legally in our country - could be placed in their counties. Some have even issued emergency orders making it illegal to do so and attempt to invalidate any private contract to house these immigrants in hotels.
Buffalo and Erie County have always been welcoming communities to immigrants. During the past decade we have successfully assimilated thousands of immigrants into our community, many refugees from despotic lands. This is one reason for the great rebirth of many previously down-trodden neighborhoods in Buffalo.
Unless you are a Native American, all of us are the descendants of immigrants, some who were forced to come through slavery. You would think that the sons and daughters of immigrants would welcome new peoples to our land. However, the history of our country is replete with xenophobic attacks against immigrants who don't look, speak, or pray like us.
During each wave of immigration our ancestors were excoriated because of where they came from, the color of their skin, their native language, and so on. Excuses were made for the attacks, but none of them ever justified the hateful discriminatory nature of what was being done to these "new" Americans.
One year ago, a white supremacist came to our community to kill as many African-Americans solely because of their color of their skin. He was allegedly radicalized because of what he read on social media.
Words Matter. The acts of leaders matter.
As county executive, I will not be declaring a state of emergency regarding the possibility that legal asylum seekers may be housed in our county.
Furthermore, I will also not be issuing an emergency order prohibiting the housing of legal asylum seekers in our community. Not only is such an order illegal under Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is morally repugnant.
Yesterday, I attended an event in the Southern Tier of New York. While in Owego in Tioga County, I came across a banner in front of an Episcopal Church that perfectly says what many need to hear:
Love your neighbor who doesn't look like you, think like you, love like you, speak like you, pray like you, vote like you. Love your Neighbor. No Exceptions."
