Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, a Democrat, has announced a halt to the acceptance of migrants from New York City into his county following two recent sexual assault incidents at Buffalo-area hotels housing asylum seekers. Poloncarz expressed concerns about the safety of the facilities and revealed that Erie County’s trust had been “betrayed.” The decision comes after allegations that a contractor hired to provide services to the migrants may have interfered with a police investigation into one of the assault cases. The incidents have prompted local officials to call for security improvements and reconsider the sustainability of the program as currently run.
Last week, two separate incidents of sexual assault occurred at Buffalo-area hotels that were housing asylum seekers relocated from New York City. An individual from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was arrested and charged with sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment for allegedly assaulting a hotel employee. In another case, a migrant from Venezuela, who also arrived from New York City, was charged with raping a woman in front of a child at a different hotel. These incidents have raised serious concerns about the safety and security of the facilities and have prompted local officials to reevaluate the handling of the asylum seekers.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has decided to halt the acceptance of further migrants from New York City into his county. He cited concerns about the safety of the facilities and expressed that Erie County’s trust had been betrayed. Poloncarz mentioned that a contractor, DocGo, hired by the Adams Administration to provide services to the migrants, may have interfered with a police investigation in the second assault case. He called for a pause in transportation of asylum seekers to the community until security issues are resolved. Poloncarz also discussed the need for a new and improved security plan before accepting additional migrants.
Erie County had previously accepted around 540 asylum seekers. However, the recent incidents have prompted officials to call for the removal of asylum seekers from the hotels. Poloncarz expressed that the current program may not be sustainable without significant changes due to the concerns over security and community trust. The county executive acknowledged the efforts of refugee agencies but emphasized that the community’s trust had been compromised.
The decision by Erie County comes as New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have struck a deal to relocate 1,200 migrant families outside the city. This move represents a significant step by the state to address the ongoing migrant crisis. Thirteen shelters located outside the city will be staffed by the National Guard. The incidents in Erie County highlight the challenges that local communities face in providing safe and secure accommodations for asylum seekers and the importance of comprehensive security measures in such programs.
