NYC to send asylum-seekers upstate to deal with influx
Published:Saturday | May 6, 2023 | 5:05 PM
New York City's mayor announced plans Friday to send hundreds of asylum-seekers to two hotels north of the city for up to four months as it tries to cope with a surge of arrivals, antagonising officials in the largely suburban area.
Democratic Mayor Eric Adams' administration said up to 300 single, adult men under the city's care will be transported on a volunteer basis to a hotel in Orangeburg in Rockland County and another in Orange Lake in neighbouring Orange County.
Adams has denounced Texas Governor Greg Abbott for busing asylum-seekers to New York City without prior coordination, and officials representing the areas north of the city lodged similar complaints against Adams on Friday.
The mayor also has repeatedly pleaded for more state and federal help to deal with an influx of asylum-seekers, many of whom were bused to the city by out-of-state governors.
He said the program would help the city handle the more than 37,500 asylum-seekers currently in the city's care.
The administration said the men using the hotels as temporary shelters will be provided with meals, counseling, legal support and other services.
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