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Bipartisan congressmembers call on feds to declare emergency for NY in response to migrant crisis

Democrat Rep. Pat Ryan, Republican Rrep. Mike Lawler, and Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro are calling on the federal government to declare a state of emergency for New York to help the state respond to the growing migrant crisis.

Jonathan Gordon

May 12, 2023, 12:14 AM

Updated 560 days ago

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Democrat Rep. Pat Ryan, Republican Rrep. Mike Lawler, and Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro are calling on the federal government to declare a state of emergency for New York to help the state respond to the growing migrant crisis.
“The current migrant situation in New York is untenable. From New York City, where they have more than 60,000 asylum seekers, to the Hudson Valley communities who were given no notice and no assistance to house asylum seekers, to the migrants themselves, simply here in search of a better life, this process has been a mess,” said Rep. Ryan.“
“With Title 42 having expired, we are seeing a surge of migrants approaching the border that will add to a crisis that has seen New York City take in over 60,000 migrants so far. Now, Mayor Eric Adams has chosen to begin bussing additional arrivals into the Hudson Valley. This is a completely untenable situation and demands immediate federal action,” said Rep. Lawler.
"Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams actions are inhumane and illegal. Hotels are not shelters. Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams should be putting pressure on President Biden to implement commonsense and compassionate border security and immigration reforms. Instead, they are relocating hundreds of migrants to upstate New York counties without proper funding, coordination, or approval from local communities," wrote Rep. Molinaro in a letter on Thursday.
The state of emergency would authorize FEMA to identify, mobilize and provide the resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the migrant surge in New York.
On Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she is working with the counties but primarily focusing on giving New York City the resources it needs to address the overflow of asylum seekers.
"It's really important that we pull together as a state and deal with the times that we're in," said Hochul following her event in Mount Vernon.
She said she has called on the federal government dozens of times over the last year and as recently as yesterday for more support.