The state of New York has seen an influx of migrants, and leaders are struggling to find space to house them. Gov. Kathy Hochul says she’s considering other options for housing, including on SUNY campuses across the state.Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest confirmed to NBC5 that members of Hochul’s administration were in the city on Wednesday touring residential halls at SUNY Plattsburgh to potentially house migrants.However, Rosenquest said he did not have further information about if the campus would actually play host to any migrants. He also did not have any information regarding future updates from the governor’s office regarding a decision on the matter.Rosenquest did stress that if migrants were to come to Plattsburgh, he believes it would be an opportunity for the city to be a welcoming place.”Philosophically we are a country of immigrants and now is not the time to be xenophobic or scared of people that need respite,” Rosenquest said.Since last spring, New York City has seen more than 60,000 asylum seekers. And state officials expect to see more migrants entering the state since the end of Title 42. That’s the pandemic-era policy that allowed the government to expel migrants from the country. In an interview with Spectrum NY1 News on Wednesday, Gov. Hochul told their reporters that SUNY campuses would be considered as a short-term option, but not long-term. “We put out a call to all of our agencies, Gov. Hochul said. “I had a meeting in our Emergency Operations Center with all of our cabinet members and had representatives from SUNY there, and I said, find all available state properties, let’s analyze them, let’s see whether they’re temporary short term, whether it becomes longer term.”The SUNY Chancellor’s Office told NBC5 news in a statement that, “At Governor Hochul’s direction, we are assessing whether there are SUNY resources available to help with the arrival of asylum seekers.”NBC5 News reached out to SUNY Plattsburgh for more information, but we were directed to contact the governor’s office. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is not supportive of the plan. She released a statement on Wednesday. She said, in part:“It’s disgusting and shameful that Governor Kathy Hochul is in discussion with local officials about using taxpayer-funded SUNY schools and facilities throughout New York, including SUNY schools across NY-21 to house unvetted illegal immigrants. This decision does nothing to address the Biden Border Crisis and only incentivizes more illegal immigration.”Gov. Hochul issued an executive order last week declaring a state of emergency for when Title 42 ended on Thursday, May 11. She said it will allow the state to mobilize more National Guard members and to quickly react to food and supply needs.New York’s recently approved state budget includes about $1 billion to help New York City with asylum seekers. The Associated Press contributed to this report.NBC5’s Liz Strzepa contributed to this report.
The state of New York has seen an influx of migrants, and leaders are struggling to find space to house them.
Gov. Kathy Hochul says she’s considering other options for housing, including on SUNY campuses across the state.
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Plattsburgh Mayor Chris Rosenquest confirmed to NBC5 that members of Hochul’s administration were in the city on Wednesday touring residential halls at SUNY Plattsburgh to potentially house migrants.
However, Rosenquest said he did not have further information about if the campus would actually play host to any migrants. He also did not have any information regarding future updates from the governor’s office regarding a decision on the matter.
Rosenquest did stress that if migrants were to come to Plattsburgh, he believes it would be an opportunity for the city to be a welcoming place.
“Philosophically we are a country of immigrants and now is not the time to be xenophobic or scared of people that need respite,” Rosenquest said.
Since last spring, New York City has seen more than 60,000 asylum seekers.
And state officials expect to see more migrants entering the state since the end of Title 42. That’s the pandemic-era policy that allowed the government to expel migrants from the country.
In an interview with Spectrum NY1 News on Wednesday, Gov. Hochul told their reporters that SUNY campuses would be considered as a short-term option, but not long-term.
“We put out a call to all of our agencies, Gov. Hochul said. “I had a meeting in our Emergency Operations Center with all of our cabinet members and had representatives from SUNY there, and I said, find all available state properties, let’s analyze them, let’s see whether they’re temporary short term, whether it becomes longer term.”
The SUNY Chancellor’s Office told NBC5 news in a statement that, “At Governor Hochul’s direction, we are assessing whether there are SUNY resources available to help with the arrival of asylum seekers.”
NBC5 News reached out to SUNY Plattsburgh for more information, but we were directed to contact the governor’s office.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is not supportive of the plan.
She released a statement on Wednesday. She said, in part:
“It’s disgusting and shameful that Governor Kathy Hochul is in discussion with local officials about using taxpayer-funded SUNY schools and facilities throughout New York, including SUNY schools across NY-21 to house unvetted illegal immigrants.
This decision does nothing to address the Biden Border Crisis and only incentivizes more illegal immigration.”
Gov. Hochul issued an executive order last week declaring a state of emergency for when Title 42 ended on Thursday, May 11. She said it will allow the state to mobilize more National Guard members and to quickly react to food and supply needs.
New York’s recently approved state budget includes about $1 billion to help New York City with asylum seekers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
NBC5’s Liz Strzepa contributed to this report.
