Broome State of Emergency Bars NYC from Busing Migrants to County

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar has declared a state of emergency in an effort to prevent New York City from sending asylum seekers to the Binghamton area.

Garnar announced the move on Thursday afternoon. He said the emergency order prohibits hotels, motels and shelters from making arrangements to house migrants.

The county executive said there are inadequate resources to accommodate large groups of people who may attempt to relocate in the area.

New York City sent a bus with a few dozen asylum seekers to an Orange County hotel. Mayor Eric Adams has indicated more migrants may be transported to upstate communities in the days ahead because his city won't be able to handle the expected influx of migrants.

Garnar said the situation "really highlights the need for this issue to be addressed at the federal level."

The county executive said "if New York City sends hundreds of people into Broome County, it will absolutely break our social service system."

Sheriff Fred Akshar said he "will use every resource" at his disposal to enforce the emergency order "to avoid and prevent unsafe situations and threats to public safety before they happen."

Akshar said members of the sheriff's office were informing Broome hotel and motel owners of the directive banning the housing of asylum seekers without the county's permission.

VIDEO: Broome County Executive Jason Garnar discussed concerns about large numbers of asylum seekers who could be buses to the Binghamton area.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.