BUFFALO, NY (WKBW)—Border battles are heating up again in Erie County. A Republican lawmaker said he feared some immigrants could soon arrive in western New York without any information being disclosed to lawmakers.
“What I’m looking for is transparency and accountability. As a government employee, I have to answer my residents,” said Republican Erie County Rep. Jim Malshewski.
WKBW
Marchevsky issued a news release Thursday morning saying he learned through media reports that a large number of migrants could be arriving by bus at a hotel in Cheektowaga near Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Ships from New York City.
“Is this the first batch? Will there be another batch tomorrow? Will there be another group next week? commented.
Marcewski disagrees with Erie County Executive Mark Polonkertz, who announced last month that he would welcome asylum seekers to Buffalo.
WKBW
But I asked the county administration if they had any information about what was going on and tried to get an answer.
I received the following statement:
“Erie County has no role in regulating the transportation of immigrants by New York City. It is simply a commercial transaction with New York City: If the county administration becomes aware that New York City has reserved a hotel for the purpose of accommodating asylum seekers, it will notify the members of Congress in the district in which the hotel is located. To do. “
The resettlement agency, Jericho Road, was contacted and said there was “no certainty” that they would arrive, but that they were “prepared” if the migrants were to be sent to the area. Thing.
WKBW
We also received information from the New York City mayor’s office late Thursday afternoon that they were considering the possibility of sending a bus that wouldn’t arrive until the evening, but no other information.
“Aren’t legislators directly involved in moving immigrants from New York City to their local communities? In fact, they’re not in the debate,” New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan replied.
Republican Senator Gallivan said he hadn’t heard of New York City sending immigrants to western New York and called for transparency.
WKBW
“But is it right that people are just thrown into the community without even talking to the community leaders? We don’t even know that different communities have leader resources. , and there have been no discussions with organizations within that community, so that’s my concern,” Gallivan said.
“The mayor of New York City says he’s going to send them over here because they can’t pay. What assurance do we have that we’ll be reimbursed?”
I also learned from the governor’s office that New York City would cover the cost of taking immigrants to local hotels.
