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Sending a message: County taking steps to restrict migrant numbers

Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel issued an emergency declaration in response to New York City's intentions to send migrants and asylum seekers to other counties.

The declaration prohibits other municipalities from bringing and housing people in the county; prohibits hotels and motels from housing immigrants without a license; and requires any municipalities that might bring migrating or asylum-seeking people into Chautauqua County to ensure they will be fully cared and paid for.

The State of Emergency went into effect Thursday and will remain for 30 days at which time it may be extended.

Wendel said the declaration is due to the lack of resources in Chautauqua County.

"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. While we support the families who have already migrated to our county, we lack the services and funding required to assist additional individuals," he said.

Wendel's actions came after state Sen. George Borrello sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul opposing migrants from New York City being moved to State University at New York campuses, especially the location at Fredonia.

"I am especially opposed to SUNY Fredonia being chosen as a migrant housing location," Borrello said. "Our community does not have the resources that would be required to underwrite the costs of housing, feeding and meeting the many needs that immigrants will require. Our rural upstate social service network is already overburdened by the services required by our own community members."

The Sunset Bay Republican said the migrant crisis is one of New York's own making dating back its self-declared status as a sanctuary state and New York City officials' decision to be a sanctuary city as well as its 2020 Green Light Law that allows undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license while also barring federal authorities from accessing state motor vehicle records to enforce immigration policies and laws.

"Along with the 2017 Executive Order signed by former Governor Cuomo barring law enforcement or state agencies from inquiring about a person's immigration status, state officials have made New York the perfect place for undocumented immigrants to settle and avoid deportation," Borrello said. "To end this crisis, New York City and New York state need to rescind their sanctuary status and policies. President Biden needs to implement commonsense and compassionate border security and immigration reforms to secure our border and protect both U.S. citizens and immigrants."

Wendel's declaration is similar to others across upstate. In Oswego County, Legislature Chairman James Weatherup issued the emergency order Wednesday.

"With the ongoing crisis across our country and New York City's recent attempts to transport and house migrants and asylum seekers in counties, we believe this is a necessary action to ensure the humane treatment of these individuals and safeguard our taxpayers from shouldering the economic and social burden of controversial policies from Washington, Albany and New York City," Weatherup said. "We empathize with the plight of migrants and asylum seekers, many of whom came here because of misguided policies that welcomed them without considering the potential outcome, but we cannot ask the taxpayers of Oswego County to pay for transportation, housing and other costs."

At this point, State University of New York officials are in a process of evaluating how to move forward. "At Governor Hochul's direction, we are assessing whether there are SUNY resources available to help with the arrival of asylum seekers," said Holly Liapas, spokeswoman.

Reporter Gregory Bacon contributed to this article.