MID-HUDSON – Wednesday was the day that asylum seekers were expected to be bused to Orange and Rockland counties from New York City and were to be put up in hotels and motels. None came to those counties on that date.
Both county executives previously signed executive orders making it illegal for hotels and motels to house those immigrants.
Late that night, Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus announced (in a Facebook video) those asylum seekers would not be coming to his county “in the near future.”
He did note that immigrants are what made America great.
“The more people that come in, their ideas and their backgrounds and diversity, really makes this country a great country,” he said. “But there has to be a plan on how to do it, ands that’s what is frustrating. We need some guidance, first and foremost the federal government has to make a decision – are they going to get amnesty, are they going to be staying in this country, are we going to give them a pathway.”
Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Orangetown Town Supervisor Kenny Wednesday announced additional enforcement actions executed against the Armoni Inn & Suites Hotel in Orangeburg and the City of New York.
The City of New York announced plans Friday to house over 300 migrants in the Armoni Inn & Suites Hotel in Orangeburg for four months, which violates the town’s local laws.
In response, the town filed a lawsuit and was granted a temporary restraining order late Tuesday by a judge.
“It is my understanding no buses will be coming from New York City but if they do the sheriff is authorized under the order to turn them away. The legal status of these individuals is irrelevant to this lawsuit,” the supervisor said. “This has to do with zoning codes and legal use of this property.”
Meanwhile, in Orange County, sheriff’s and Town of Newburgh officers have been at the Comfort Inn on Lakeside Road in the Orange Lake area of the Town of Newburgh, where New York City said it would place asylum seekers.
Rumor was they would be bused north Wednesday, but that never materialized.
Orange County has an executive order in place prohibiting hotels and motels from housing the migrants, but that may be challenged should buses arrive.
