LIBERTY, NY — Reports have emerged of a plan by NYC to direct asylum seekers to a hotel or hotels within Sullivan County. 

"With less than 24-hour notice, Sullivan County has been informed that 80 New York City social services clients are being transported today from the City to the Knight's Inn in Liberty," reads a statement released Thursday, May 18 from chair of the Sullivan County Legislature Rob Doherty. "The way the city, New York State and the federal government are approaching this issue is reckless and unsustainable, as many county leaders have said across the state."

"In Sullivan's case, we fear that this will displace a number of our otherwise-homeless residents, who we house in this and other lodging establishments."

The Sullivan County Department of Family Services has a contract with the Knights Inn to house the county's homeless residents. Under the contract, the Knights Inn will provide temporary housing to clients in need of temporary housing, with 30 rooms reserved at a cost of $75 per night. 

Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) released a statement Wednesday, May 17 reading: “Tonight we received information from the Office of Mayor Eric Adams that nearly 100 migrants will be sent from New York City to hotels in Sullivan County. I firmly oppose this decision. Sullivan is not a sanctuary city. Its residents are experiencing record levels of poverty, food insecurity, and a housing crisis. This community does not have the capacity to handle a migrant crisis. I’m urging Mayor Adams to reconsider this plan and once again calling on President Biden to declare a state of emergency so this crisis will be addressed in New York City, instead of the Catskills.”

State Senator Peter Oberacker signed onto a letter from NYS senate Republicans, written before the news about Sullivan County broke, calling for greater transparency and leadership from state and federal officials regarding the crisis. 

“The rural communities I represent are not prepared to house undocumented migrants being shipped upstate and should not be on the hook for the failures of New York City, Albany, and Washington D.C.,” said Oberacker.  “Once again, this is a case of passing the buck and usurping the will of local communities.  New York City may have declared itself a sanctuary but other communities have not.  Additionally, the lack of transparency and proper communication is inexcusable.”

Oberacker co-sponsored a pair of related bills: Senate Bill 6995, which would clarify that a local state of emergency supersedes a state of emergency issued by the Governor when the two are in conflict; and Senate Bill 7009, which would protect vulnerable populations – including veterans, victims of domestic violence, and the disabled – by prohibiting them from being ejected from a hotel, motel or shelter in order to make room for migrants. 

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther released a statement on Thursday, May 18, reading, "“I was informed only last night that Sullivan County would be receiving 80 migrants from New YorkCity. This was a haphazard and uncoordinated placement by New York City and is unfair, unsafe, and ill considered to all involved. Sullivan County is one of the poorest counties in the state, and has a hard enough time providing housing, food and services for the people already here. To add to that issue by bringing people into the county who will need those very same services is frankly irresponsible, and the choice of locations to house these migrants shows how ill planned this truly was.”

This is a developing story.