Rockland County officials, including County Executive Ed Day and Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Joan Silvestri, are urging New York City not to send busloads of migrants to their county. They argue that Rockland lacks the necessary infrastructure to support the influx of undocumented individuals and that the current plan is neither sustainable nor humane. This comes as the county is already experiencing strain on its schools, food pantries, housing, and social services due to an increase in the number of undocumented individuals settling in the area.
County Executive Ed Day expressed his frustration with the plan, stating, “There is nothing humanitarian about a Sanctuary City sending busloads of people to a County that does not have the infrastructure to care for them.” The plan comes on the heels of a phone call from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who informed a Town Supervisor that undocumented individuals would be sent to Rockland County and housed in a local hotel.
The City of New York plans to house approximately 340 adult males in the Armoni Inn and Suites in Orangeburg for four months, with the goal of securing them work permits to integrate into the community. However, Rockland County officials doubt that the necessary work permits can be obtained within the four-month timeframe and criticize the location choice, citing a lack of resources within walking distance.
Although city officials claim they will provide short-term funding and services to the migrants, no concrete plans for long-term housing, food, and support have been communicated. County Executive Day called the plan “duplicative” and accused Mayor Adams of surprising the community with the announcement.
In early March, Rockland County held a press conference with local food pantries and DSS to address the impacts of the increasing number of undocumented individuals resettling in the area. Among the issues discussed were food pantries running out of supplies, a 35% increase in children under foster care, and over 1,000 additional children enrolled in local districts.
DSS Commissioner Joan Silvestri emphasized the inadequacy of the current system, stating, “Our current system is not built to support asylum seekers and work permits do not guarantee work or integration.” Furthermore, she noted that social services funding is not applicable to undocumented individuals, leaving the county without financial support to aid those without legal status.
With Title 42, a public health order implemented during the Trump administration due to the pandemic, set to expire on May 11th, Rockland County officials are concerned that the current influx of migrants could be just the beginning. They are urging federal lawmakers to address the nation’s broken immigration system.
County Executive Day concluded by saying, “This screams out for solutions on the Federal level pertaining to our broken immigration system because any Federal lawmakers in support of this and Mayor Adams are not doing these folks any favors, quite the opposite; you’re not helping people, you’re hurting people.”