The Clarkstown Town Board has unanimously approved a new law that strictly enforces when and how migrants can arrive in town.

These new rules essentially give the town more control and set specific regulations for buses transporting migrants from New York City or anywhere else.

This decision follows an incident last fall when dozens of migrants were discovered living in poor conditions in a home in Clarkstown. In response, town officials signed an executive order barring buses from dropping off migrants unannounced, and last night's vote solidified this into law.

Under the new legislation, any bus operator must apply for a drop-off at least five days in advance, provide a list of passengers, and conduct background checks. Drop-offs are only permitted Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While some critics have labeled the law as divisive and lacking compassion, town officials argue that action was necessary following the incident last fall.

Bus operators who fail to comply with the new law face significant penalties, including a $750 fine per passenger, an additional $5,000 penalty, potential vehicle impoundment, or even criminal charges.

"We want to be comprehensive in our approach, not only doing tough and strict code enforcement, but we want to make sure we're putting something in place," said Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann.