Leaders across New York state continue to look for ways to address a potential influx of migrants into their communities. In Broome County, at least three hotels have already been contacted by New York City-based groups, which were seeking to book over 40 rooms for up to one year.

But County Executive Jason Garnar has issued an executive order, as shelters and dwellings in his county, are already full.

Now, the influx of migrants into upstate is shining a light on a deeper issue in many communities.

Take Broome County for example, where shelters are at capacity, as issues like homelessness and a lack of affordable housing are forcing more and more residents to seek help.

Garnar said the idea of accepting even a few dozen migrants could have a negative impact.

“It would break our system and it would actually have a reverse effect of putting people that depend on these services that live in Broome County out on the street. And that's my concern,” Garnar said.

Not long after New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced he would be shipping willing migrants to neighboring parts of the state, at least three hotels in Broome County were contacted about temporary housing.

A city-based group reached out to the Quality Inn and Comfort Suites, both located in Vestal, along with a third unnamed hotel, about the possibility of booking 40 rooms for up to a year for migrants at a government rate. The hotels denied the requests. The information was discovered as deputies visited 34 hotels in Broome County, informing them about Garnar’s newly issued executive order.

"We received no information from New York City," Garnar said. "We've asked New York City to even just simply provide a one-pager. For example, can you know who are the people coming in? Do they have ID? Do they have are they eligible to work? Do they, are they fully immunized? We haven't received one piece of information and we're two weeks into this and that."

The executive order prohibits hotels and dwellings from contracting with municipalities to house large groups of individuals due to the shortage of housing and human services. A $2,000 fine per individual, per day would be issued to hotels going against the order.

The sheriff’s office will work to enforce it.

"When you have a significant group of unknown people, unvetted, people coming into your community, you can't help but want to ask questions," said Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar. "The people of Broome County, regardless of their politics, should expect me to do that as their sheriff, to make sure that I'm asking as many questions as humanly possible, so I completely understand who is coming to this community."

County leaders and law enforcement agencies say they feel blindsided after learning the hotels had been contacted, as they say, behind their backs.

“That is not transparent, that is not being open. And that is the very thing that people in communities across this state are pushing back against,” said Akshar.

Garnar and Akshar say Broome County has long had a history of welcoming those from other counties, but say they simply can’t handle such a large influx in such a short time.

According to county leaders, at least one additional hotel has been contacted since that executive order was issued.