Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus declared a state of emergency on May 8 in response to a New York City plan to bus illegal immigrants to upstate hotels.
The executive order prohibits hotels, motels, and other short-term rental facilities in the county from housing any illegal immigrants, or asylum seekers, arranged by the New York City government.
“I’m a child of immigrants ... I understand these folks are for a better life, and most of them are,” Neuhaus said in a May 9 video address. “But there has got to be a better way.”
He said he was concerned with whether these individuals were properly vetted and who would care for them after New York City weaned them off temporary assistance.
According to the executive order, the county’s Department of Social Services has no legal basis to provide services to these individuals because of their age and immigration status.
By state law, a state of emergency declaration by a local government is effective for 30 days and can be extended for no more than 30 days.
Two pilot sites were chosen to start the program: the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, Orange County, and the Armoni Inn and Suites in Orangeburg, Rockland County.
About 60 individuals were planned for the Newburgh hotel, according to Neuhaus.
The move is part of New York City’s new strategy to bus out illegal immigrants as it runs out of money, staff, and space to care for them, according to a city blueprint report published in March.
Since last spring, more than 60,000 illegal immigrants have come through the city—many with the aid of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott—and about 37,500 are currently under the city’s care, according to a May 5 press release.
As of March, the Adams administration has spent $650 million on temporary assistance to illegal immigrants, who accounted for 40 percent of the city’s total homeless population, according to the blueprint report.
The city expects an even larger influx due to the looming expiration of Title 42—a border policy established during COVID-19 that allows for expelling illegal immigrants to protect public health.
To ease the mounting burden, the Adams administration plans to divert illegal immigrants out of the city boundary, with the end goal of securing them long-term housing and job opportunities as they work on their legal proceedings, according to the report.
To boost participation in the voluntary, four-month pilot hotel programs, New York City workers had circulated a three-page flyer advertising the benefits of moving upstate among immigrant shelters, according to Neuhaus.
“Located near the Hudson Valley, just outside New York City, these shelter options will include a warm environment, nutritious meals, and case workers to help adults over the age of 18 access what you need to care for yourself and transition to a new home,” the flyer reads.
Laundry services, housekeeping, and medical consultations are also provided.
Now, with a state of emergency in place, these individuals are expected to be refused by hotels in Orange County and return by buses to New York City, according to a statement provided to The Epoch Times by the county executive’s office.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day also declared a state of emergency on May 6 in response to the New York City plan, demanding that local governments be reimbursed for related expenses.
Day said in a press release that the county was already struggling with the migration of people from the city and that its infrastructure couldn’t take care of the additional influx planned by the Adams administration.
About 340 adult men were said to be sent to the county’s Armoni Inn and Suites.
The New York City Mayor’s Office didn’t respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
