5 Hotels Suing Towns, Counties Over Migrant Bans

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Another lawsuit regarding the asylum seekers being transported to the Hudson Valley from New York City has been filed in federal court.

The owners of five hotels in Orange, Rockland and Dutchess counties are challenging the validity of executive orders that towns and counties have put in place to prevent the hotels from temporarily housing the asylum seekers, the Journal News reported.

The lawsuit claims local officials are violating the Constitution by threatening their businesses and are catering to xenophobic and political points of view.

New York City said more than 65,000 migrants have arrived over the past year in the city, with some of them bused by Republican governors in border states in order to draw attention to their displeasure over border policies of the federal government.

Since NYC’s plan to transport asylum seekers to the suburbs was discovered, 34 of 57 counties outside the city, along with two towns, have declared states of emergency.

On Tuesday, a Dutchess County Supreme Court judge granted Dutchess County’s request for a temporary restraining order preventing NYC from bringing any more homeless adults or minors up to the county.

There are currently 86 men being housed at the Red Roof Plus+ on South Road in Poughkeepsie.

Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O’Neill said the asylum seekers are the responsibility of New York City. That means the city must cover lodging, meals and wrap-around services such as security.

He also said New York State Homeland Security said the migrants have all been vetted, fingerprinted and identified by the federal government.

O’Neill said it was realistic to think that the asylum seekers will be in the county for an indefinite period and may need to be assimilated into the community.

That means, he said, the city should be willing to collaborate with the county and it should be expected that state dollars will be distributed to help care for the migrants.

SEE ALSO:

• NY AG, Orange County DA Probe Inflammatory Lie About Migrants In HV
• Dutchess Declares Emergency Over Possible Arrival Of Asylum Seekers
• Fishkill Town Board Votes To Make Housing Migrants Illegal
• Orange County Extends Emergency Order Over NYC Migrants
• 'They Are Now Our Guests': More Asylum Seekers Arrive In Westchester