On July 24, Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine issued an executive order outlining how the county would address migrants and asylum seekers being brought to Long Island.
In the proclamation it is stated that “Suffolk County recognizes that the anticipated uncoordinated moving of people into the County of Suffolk will result in a severe housing crisis as a result of the limited number of temporary and permanent housing available in the County.”
The outlined measures have been developed so that the county can “quickly respond” to the potential arrival of asylum seekers.
Local states of emergency have been issued on Jan. 5, 2024, Feb. 4, 2024, March 5, 2024, April 4, 2024, May 3, 2024, May 31, 2024 and June 28, 2024 in relation to the ongoing migrant crisis that is currently affecting New York City.
On Aug. 2, 2021, the federal government issued an order pursuant to 42 U.S.C. secs. 362 and 365 (the “Title 42 Order”) prohibiting migration into the United States by “covered noncitizens” traveling from Canada or Mexico that expired on May 11, 2023.
Upon expiration, the order stated that there was an “anticipated surge of migration into the United States commenced resulting with the imminent arrival of individuals into New York State at an increased rate.”
As county executive, Romaine will temporarily suspend or modify any Suffolk County or New York State statute, local law, resolution, order, rule or regulation or parts thereof, if compliance with such statute, local law, resolution, order, rule or regulation would prevent, hinder or delay action necessary to assist, aid or cope with the state of emergency.
The following steps will be taken:
The formation of an intergovernmental team that includes the chief deputy county executive, to coordinate to assist in meeting the needs of the county as a result of any potential housing crisis in the county.
All county departments are required to work with the county executive’s office to effectuate any emergency measures.
No hotel, motel, owner of a multiple dwelling, or shelter in Suffolk County is permitted to contract or otherwise engage in business with any other municipality for the purpose of providing housing or accommodations for asylum seekers without the permission or coordination of Suffolk County. *This prohibition extends to any person or entity participating in an external municipality’s government program, or a contract or service funded by an external municipality or acting on behalf of any external municipality or the State of New York.
In order to effectuate Suffolk County’s role in this emergency, all procurement policies for the purchase of equipment, supplies or contracts, relating to this emergency, are suspended.
The proclamation stressed that remedies and penalties to address the influx of migrants and asylum refugees are not exclusive, in substitution for, or limitation of existing remedies or penalties.
Legis. Anthony Piccirillo (R-8th District) expressed approval and support of the order and said he was “happy” with the issuing of the executive order.
“Because of the failures of the Biden/Harris administration, every county is now a border county. We must use all available tools as a local government to address the crisis head-on,” said Piccirillo.
Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-7th District) said he was in “complete agreement” with the measures set forth by Romaine in his executive order.
“Suffolk County, like most local jurisdictions, does not have the money or resources needed to solve this federal issue. The previous county administration issued the same emergency orders. It’s about protecting our own citizens and taxpayers. Even the federal government has recently put on hold its controversial program that allowed tens of thousands of migrants from four nations to fly or travel directly into the United States after reports showed significant amounts of fraud in the program,” said Thorne.
New York City mayor Eric Adams (D) has been calling on state and federal leaders for additional funding to handle the nearly 100,000 asylum seekers that have come to the metropolis since 2022.
Official statements from the mayor’s office state that the New York City is “poised to spend more than $12 billion through fiscal year 2025” in costs related to the asylum seekers housing and resources support.
In fiscal year 2023, New York City spent $1.45 billion to help migrants with nearly 200 emergency shelters opening in the five boroughs.
In a press conference, Adams said, “We are past the breaking point.”
Earlier in June of this year, it was reported by the New York State Association of County Leaders that hundreds of migrants who were moved outside New York City to upstate New York would be sent back to the five boroughs.
The association’s executive director, Stephen Acquario, said that the move to upstate New York was “always meant to be a temporary basis.”
According to the NYCLU (the New York division of the American Civil Liberties Union), immigrants make up 36 percent of New York City’s population with about 7 percent being the 200,000 migrants and asylum seekers who have recently come to the city from the Southern border.
Originally, asylum seekers did not qualify for Safety Net Assistance (i.e., financial support from New York State) until they received their work permit from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which, according to USCIS website, was streamlined to take only 30 days for applicants admitted as refugees after Dec. 10, 2023, but now asylees only have to produce the USCIS receipt notice of their case to qualify.
Safety Net Assistance includes:
Non-cash SNA is provided for:
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