ALBANY- Assemblyman Matt Slater (R, Yorktown) has introduced legislation that would require migrants in New York to register with several state agencies, leading to what he says will be a stronger vetting process and ability for the state to provide assistance to municipalities in which migrants are resettled. Assemblyman Brian Maher (R, Montgomery) immediately signed on as a co-sponsor.
The bill would require refugees to register with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance so it can provide information to a number of offices and agencies such as the Office for New Americans, Department of Law, Division of State Police and others. It also requires resettlement agencies to provide quarterly reports to the Bureau of Refugees and Immigrant Assistance to ensure public funds are used in a responsible manner.
Slater, the prime sponsor of the bill in a social media post said, “With our southern border being flooded with Central American migrants, it is critical that we do not compromise the safety of New York State residents. The state has a responsibility to require background checks, quarterly reports and monitoring of all migrants entering New York State, particularly when taxpayers are being expected to provide services to those who are petitioning for asylum in this country.”
Maher, who joined the bill as a co-sponsor said, “Our current situation with migrants entering our local communities will get worse before it gets better. We must work together to address this in a way that protects our communities and the migrants themselves.”
The Assemblymen also believe the bill would lead to better oversight of the $1 billion allocated in the recent state budget earmarked to provide support to local governments to address the influx of migrants.
