Officials Surprised As Asylum-Seekers Arrive In Newburgh Thursday

NEWBURGH, NY — Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said asylum-seekers from New York City have arrived in the town of Newburgh.

In a statement, Neuhaus said both the state and New York City assured the town of Newburgh and Orange County that no buses with asylum-seekers would be sent to Orange County until further notice.

He said the New York State Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the supervisor of Newburgh and his police department were not notified that the buses would be arriving Thursday

“Sadly, we have learned that you cannot trust the word of New York City’s mayor and the leadership of New York,” Neuhaus said.

Two buses with about 20 to 30 men arrived around 10:30 a.m. at the Crossroads Hotel in the town of Newburgh, News 12 reported.

At least one more bus with immigrants is supposed to be on the way from New York City.

Neuhaus said the whole process has been disorganized “and the blame lies with the Mayor of New York, who originally opened the door for as many undocumented immigrants as possible to his self-proclaimed sanctuary city.

He also said Governor Kathy Hochul has sat back doing nothing while the crisis negatively impacts the state.

Late Wednesday, Neuhaus posted a video explaining that he had been told by New York City officials that, at least for “the near future” immigrants would not be bussed to Orange County.

He said that Washington, D.C., and Albany need to make decisions and local officials need to be part of the process.