Upstate NY County Urges Eric Adams to Halt Migrant Placement Following Two Reported Sexual Assaults

Erie County Calls on NYC Mayor to Halt Transportation of Illegal Migrants

Erie County in upstate New York is calling on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to halt the transportation of illegal migrants to their area. This demand comes after two alleged sexual assaults involving migrants occurred. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has requested that Mayor Adams pause the transportation of asylum seekers until security issues can be resolved.

Security Concerns and Incidents

The Erie County Executive, Mark Poloncarz, has stated that the federal government has agreed not to send any more migrants to Erie County for the time being. This comes after a migrant from Venezuela was charged with raping a woman in front of a 3-year-old child. The incident occurred after the suspect had arrived in Erie County through New York City, with the city allegedly paying for his hotel room. Poloncarz also mentioned the need for a new and improved security plan.

A second migrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been arrested for sexual assault just three days after the first migrant was charged. The second migrant has been charged with sex abuse and unlawful imprisonment for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman who was working to provide services to the migrants.

A 27-year-old female from Buffalo, who was working at a hotel as an employee of Platinum Community Care, was identified as the victim in a recent incident. The hotel was being used to house asylum seekers, and the Chief of the Cheektowaga Police Department, Brian Gould, has requested that the hotel no longer be used for this purpose. He has also asked for increased funding for police overtime in order to enhance law enforcement presence near the hotels.

Residents in a residential neighborhood are expressing concerns about a hotel that is causing safety and quality-of-life issues. The police chief has acknowledged these concerns and stated that the hotel is a problem. Additionally, two migrants who were charged with sexual assault had recently arrived in the town of Cheektowaga, located east of Buffalo, before their arrest.

Support from New York National Guard

Erie County in New York will be receiving additional support from the New York National Guard to assist with the influx of migrants. Governor Kathy Hochul's office announced that more than 1,800 National Guard members are already involved in addressing the migrant crisis across the state. This move comes as around 540 migrants have been transported to Erie County.

The spokesperson for Governor Hochul has issued a statement expressing the seriousness of sexual assault as a crime. The Governor is thankful to Erie County law enforcement for their efforts in addressing the incidents and has instructed State personnel to offer any required assistance.

Challenges Faced by New York City

New York City is facing a significant challenge as it deals with the influx of tens of thousands of illegal migrants over the past year. Since April 2020, over 90,000 migrants have arrived in the city, and currently, around 55,000 of them are being accommodated by the city. This has put a strain on New York's homeless shelters, which are struggling to handle the increased demand.

The city has spent $1.2 billion to assist migrants since last summer. The crisis has caused frustration for Adams, who has criticized Texas, the White House, and New York's state government for burdening the city with the emergency.