News Flash

A conference call with leaders from throughout the state shows the crisis with migrants is accelerating, and Washington and Albany need to intervene to stop the expected influx, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin said on Monday.

The call was organized by the New York State Association of Counties on Monday, with NYSAC Executive Director terming the migrant issue a “national security crisis”.

McLaughlin said the Biden administration needs to take action to close borders immediately to prevent a public safety and health crisis. The forced bussing of migrants from New York City also needs to stop on humanitarian grounds, said McLaughlin.

“The Biden administration needs to take immediate action to close our borders and stop a flood of migrants throughout our nation. We are on the verge of a public safety and humanitarian crisis in America because of the Biden administration’s inaction,” said McLaughlin.

“Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams should be filing lawsuits, not simply making bland statements or waving their hands at the issue. Upstate counties like Rensselaer County do not have the resources to call or house an influx of migrants,” added McLaughlin.

Last Tuesday, McLaughlin issued a State of Emergency prohibiting any municipality or business from entering into contracts to house migrants. Other counties including Rockland, Orange, Broome, Chemung and Herkimer have also put SOEs in place.

During the NYSAC call today, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus recounted how contracts to house the migrants between New York City and hotels and motels in his county extend to January 1, 2024. Initially, NYC Mayor Adams had claimed migrants would be housed for four weeks.

Neuhaus said there is little to no information on the migrants being sent to his county, with observers telling his office the migrants are all single males.

McLaughlin said he was equally outraged that 24 veterans dealing with homelessness were forced from a motel in Orange County as migrants were brought to the facility.

“It is cruel and outrageous that at-risk veterans are being forced from their rented residences to make room for migrants who are here illegally. We owe our veterans and their families care and support, and the treatment of Orange County veterans by NYC is absolutely wrong,” said McLaughlin.

“The fact there is little to no information on exactly who is being shipped from NYC into upstate is a reason for concern. The real identities, and motives, of these migrants is not known and that is a major red flag,” added McLaughlin.