Asylum-seekers walk to a U.S. Border Patrol van after crossing the nearby border with Mexico recently near Jacumba Hot Springs, Calif. Migrants continue to arrive to desert campsites along California’s border with Mexico, as they await processing. AP photo

With opposition to New York City’s attempts to move migrants and the homeless out of the city to rural areas remaining strong, a state legislator is pushing the state to get more involved in the issue.

Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, D-Utica, recently introduced A.8087 to establish an Office of Asylum Management task force to study, evaluate and develop recommendations relating to the management of asylum seekers in New York state. The group would be required to make a report to Gov. Kathy Hochul and the rest of the state Legislature. Buttenschon isn’t alone — her proposal already has support from fellow Democrats Brian Cunningham of Brooklyn, Inez Dickens of New York City, Al Stirpe of North Syracuse, John McDonald of Albany, Nader Sayegh of Yonkers and William Magnarelli of Syracuse.

“Throughout New York, there has been a surge of individuals entering the state seeking asylum,” Buttenschon wrote in her legislative justification. “These individuals are being placed into hotels with limited food, resources, and no work opportunities to promote their economic and personal development. In this current climate, it is impossible to encourage self-sufficiency. In addition, municipalities that are involved in hosting these individuals do not have the capacity or resources that are necessary to do so. Municipalities that are ill-equipped to take these individuals in will be faced with roadblocks in every avenue they take.”

Buttenschon’s sentiments have been echoed by Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel and Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist. Wendel recently issued his second emergency order in an attempt to stop New York City Mayor Eric Adams from sending migrants or New York City’s homeless to Chautauqua County, citing the county’s inability to handle an influx of migrants while the county is already struggling with its own migrant and homeles populations in the county, including in Jamestown. Wendel’s first executive order is among more than 30 such orders challenged in court by New York City officials. Sundquist, meanwhile, this week told The Post-Journal it’s time to bring everyone to the table to find solutions to both the migrant crisis and the homeless crisis.

County officials have used the New York Association of Counties to call for the federal government to provide impact aid to counties and school districts impacted by the influx of migrants as well as how New York City’s efforts to resettle migrants and the homeless will impact housing in smaller counties throughout the state.

“That’s why it is imperative that there is a dedicated team of people who will work to make sure there are ample resources available for this population, before displacing them into areas of the state that are overburdened with numerous issues that they currently face,” Buttenschon wrote. “This legislation will be critical in guaranteeing the economic and personal growth of asylum seekers throughout the state.”

Buttenschon’s legislation won’t move in the state Legislature until at least January when the next legislative session begins unless a special session is called. Assembly Majority Leader Carl Heastie has said there are no plans for a special session, though Republicans have called for a special session. Gov. Kathy Hochul has said she is open to a special session.

The state already appropriated $1 billion in its 2023-24 budget to help New York City deal with the influx of migrants while another $38 million has been directed to help connect migrants with legal services. Assemblywoman Phara Forrest, D-Brooklyn, has introduced legislation (A.8088) to require that the state’s Office of New Americans establish a program to offer social services needed to assist asylum seekers in integrating into New York communities within shelter facilities.

“It is essential to the successful integration of new asylum seekers into New York state to receive case management services including ESOL courses, legal assistance, workforce training, and referral to relevant programs, among others. These services should be made as accessible as possible to immigrant individuals most in need of them,” Forrest wrote in her legislative justification. “The Office of New Americans has extensive experience providing such services through its Opportunity Centers and has cultivated an expert network of community-based organizations who have expertise in doing so. This bill would bring the services offered in the Opportunity Centers into shelters, where many asylum seekers are being directed to stay in. This will allow asylum seekers to more easily access these essential services, and position providers to best deliver them.”