'It's a complete mess.' Orange County executive voices frustration over arrival of migrants
The migrants are expected to stay at the Crossroads hotel for up to four months, despite a state of emergency in Orange County.
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Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus took to social media Thursday night to voice his frustration after a bus carrying roughly 60 migrant men arrived in the county.
The migrants are expected to stay at the Crossroads hotel for up to four months, despite a state of emergency in Orange County. Neuhaus said the bus arrived without warning or any advanced notice to county officials.
MORE: Facing influx of asylum-seekers, New York City says it has reached its limit on migrants
Neuhaus said the county was told by Gov. Kathy Hochul's office that the migrants would not be coming to Orange County. He said one of his main concerns with the situation is not knowing who the men are and what happens now.
"We were talking about what their citizenship is, what their status is, what's their availability to go to work?" said Neuhaus. "Who's going to figure this out? Now, they're talking about some males coming into New York who are going to be forced to wear ankle bracelets, so you know where they are. It's a complete mess."
The New York Civil Liberties Union is suing the county, saying the state of emergency is unconstitutional. Some legislators agree.
MORE: Buses carrying migrant men from New York City arrive in Orange County
Orange County Legislator Kevindaryan Lujan said Wednesday the county is positioned to help offset the services being provided by New York City.
"We're all going to fight tooth and nail to make sure this fake state of emergency is squashed in the courts," said Lujan.
The county executive also said both the county and the town of Newburgh are working to find out what sort of legal avenues they can pursue.
The influx comes in the wake of Title 42 ending. Federal lawmakers are in active talks to address the crisis and immigration reform.
