BUFFALO, N.Y. -- In a conversation with the commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said he learned migrants from New York City will likely come to the region.
Poloncarz is told it will happen no sooner than a week from now and while a final number isn't clear, people will likely be placed in SUNY Buffalo State University housing and possibly at the University at Buffalo.
"Buffalo State appears to be a better option because the asylum seekers would not have to be moved once the school year's started as they would be placed in dorms the school would not be using for students," he said.
The county executive said he has been assured costs associated with moving and housing migrants will be covered either by the state, New York City or both. He's also been promised everybody coming to Erie County turned themselves in at the southern border requesting asylum.
"At that time they were vetted by federal authorities which includes finger-printing and running criminal background checks connected with their home countries and any nations they may have passed through," he said.
As other counties have declared states of emergency in an effort to keep migrants out, claiming a lack of capacity and resources, Poloncarz has called those orders "illegal and immoral."
"I'm the president of the New York State Association of County Executives this year and right now there are a few county executives who don't want to talk to me. So be it. We get elected to solve problems," he said.
Meanwhile, even Democratic county executives from counties with similar demographics, Albany and Monroe, issued emergency orders this week that bar hotels, shelters and other multiple dwelling units from entering into a contract to house migrants without first submitting a plan to the county and receiving approval.
"Who's going to be taking care of people, meeting their most basic needs, food, other social service needs, medical care, things like that?" Monroe County Executive Adam Bello asked.
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said he'd "rather be proactive, not reactive" and continued that he believes government is too often reactive. Poloncarz said, while he's heartened those orders weren't outright bans like other counties have put in place, he still doesn't believe they are effective, necessary or legal.
"We're going to know if people are coming, how many and where they're going, what supportive services if any are going to be required and we'll go from there but I feel confident in saying we're not just going to see buses show up in the middle of the night," Poloncarz said.
He stressed he does not believe this in a crisis in Erie County. Poloncarz pointed out no migrants from New York City have been sent to Buffalo yet but the county and local immigrant services have assisted roughly 12,000 people in the last decade alone.
He said refugees and immigrants have added significantly to Buffalo's culture, diversity and workforce.