MCLAUGHLIN CALLS FOR ANSWERS FOLLOWING TROY MURDER INVOLVING MAN IDENTIFIED BY U.S. BORDER PATROL AS BEING IN COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, AND AS A SUSPECT IN MARYLAND STABBING
COUNTY WILL ALSO INTRODUCE LOCAL LAW TO PROHIBIT CONTRACTS FOR HOUSING, STRENGTHENING COUNTY STATE OF EMERGENCY ORDERS AND ASKS FOR REVIEW BY COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF INTERACTIONS WITH MIGRANTS
Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin said he is very concerned about how a man identified as an illegal migrant was able to be free and able to murder a man in Troy this past weekend and is demanding answers on the case.
Equally concerning is the fact the man charged with the Troy stabbing had been involved in a stabbing in Maryland this past February that left the victim in critical condition, said McLaughlin. He was accompanied by state, county and local leaders for the press announcement on the issue.
McLaughlin said he will also be introducing a local law prohibiting municipalities or businesses in the county from entering into contracts for the housing of migrants in the county.
Additionally, McLaughlin said he is calling for county departments to review all interactions with migrants to allow for further policy decisions.
“There is a need for answers and a clear explanation on how this man, identified by U.S. Border Patrol as being here illegally, was able to be free after a stabbing in Maryland and able to be in Troy and able to allegedly kill a person in this county,” said McLaughlin.
“There is confusion between some of the agencies that is also a real worry, because there seems to be a lack of communication and coordination between law enforcement. The end result is there was a fatal stabbing, a family grieving and growing number of questions and concerns,” added McLaughlin.
“This is a problem caused by failed open borders policies, sanctuary city and bail reform, and a refusal by Biden, Hochul and Adams to deal with the flood of migrants. Our safety and security are at risk because of these failures, and that point was sadly made clear this past Saturday,” continued McLaughlin.
“We have said we want answers and now, several days after this murder, have even more questions than answers,” he said.
The U.S. Border Patrol in a social media post on March 18, 2023, identified Carlos E. Corrales-Ramirez as being in the country illegally and having been detained on the border near Champlain. Corrales-Ramirez was a suspect in a February stabbing in Maryland that left the victim in critical condition.
“We want answers as to how he was in the country, and why he was free in Troy despite being wanted on a warrant from Maryland for a vicious stabbing and was detained in March. U.S. Border Patrol publicly stated in March that Corrales-Ramirez was here illegally, and that he was wanted in Maryland. Why was he not in Maryland to face charges for a serious attack? There needs to be a clear explanation in writing so our residents can understand what happened,” said McLaughlin.
“Based on the information we have seen, there seems to have been a failure in the system and one that resulted in a resident of our county being killed,” added McLaughlin.
The local law proposed by McLaughlin will essentially codify the state of emergency orders issued by the county starting in May. The SOEs prohibit any municipality or business in the county from entering into contracts for the housing of migrants in the county.
McLaughlin was among the first elected officials to declare a State of Emergency in the county on the issue. He has also urged local officials to utilize planning and code ordinances to deal with any unexpected or non-permitted influx of migrants.