Photo by Timothy Frudd Mayor Eddie Sundquist provided an update Monday regarding the city’s official stance on migrant resettlement. Sundquist explained that the city is “not actively participating” in resettlement efforts and has not been offered any resettlement opportunity by the state. Pictured, from left, are City Councilwoman Kim Ecklund, R-At Large, City Councilman Randy Daversa, R-At Large, Mayor Eddie Sundquist and City Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, during Monday’s City Council voting session.

While the state grapples with how to handle the recent influx of migrants coming from the southern border of the United States, Mayor Eddie Sundquist made it clear Monday that Jamestown currently does not have resettlement plans for migrants and that the city has not yet been approached by the state for any resettlement opportunities.

Following Monday’s City Council voting session, Sundquist was asked by local reporters for an update on migration in the Jamestown region. Sundquist explained that the city does not “actively participate” in any efforts for the resettlement of asylum seekers or migrants; however, he said migrants and asylum seekers have relocated to the city and have been working with local churches and other organizations to obtain housing and other forms of support.

“I’ll say that I’ve been on multiple calls with the mayor of New York City, as well as with the governor, and we’re trying to figure out what the state is going to do,” Sundquist said. “As it stands right now, the city does not have any type of resettlement plans and has not been approached for any type of resettlement opportunities by the state.”

As The Post-Journal previously stated, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel issued an emergency declaration last week after New York City announced that it intended to relocate asylum seekers and migrants to other counties throughout the state. Wendel warned that Chautauqua County does not have the resources to handle a surge in migrants and asylum seekers.

“Over the past several months, thousands of asylum seekers have been arriving in (New York) city, which is now so overwhelmed that it is trying to move these individuals to other counties that do not have the infrastructure to care for them, especially since social services funding is not available to undocumented individuals,” he said. “While we support the families who have already migrated to our county, we lack the services and funding required to assist additional individuals.”

While Sundquist said the city is not “actively participating” in migrant resettlement efforts, the Jamestown community has been participating in efforts to relocate refugees and asylum seekers over the past year.

Earlier this spring, the Rev. Luke Fodor from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, told The Post-Journal that the New Neighbors Coalition has been working with Journey’s End on refugee resettlement, while working separately to welcome Colombian asylum seekers to Jamestown.

However, while community organizations have been working with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, Sundquist has explained that the city government is not actively engaging in migrant resettlement efforts at this time.