Orange County Not Expecting NYC's Asylum-Seekers In 'Near Future'

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — At least for “the near future,” immigrants will not be bussed to Orange County from New York City.

Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said in a Facebook video Wednesday evening that he was happy to say that asylum-seekers who were intended to be brought up from the city would not be arriving “for the time being.”

“I am a trust-but-verify person,” Neuhaus said, adding that he will be monitoring the situation.

He also said that a group of county executives will be speaking on the phone with New York City Mayor Eric Adams Thursday to talk about the situation and discuss options.

Besides sending asylum-seekers to Newburgh in Orange County, New York City officials said they were planning to put several hundred single adults in an Orangeburg hotel for four months.

Rockland County filed a restraining order against the city Tuesday night.

Neuhaus said, during his video, that the United States is a country of immigrants.

“It’s what makes this country strong,” he said.

The more people who come into the country bringing their ideas, their backgrounds and their diversity make America better, Neuhaus said.

“But there’s got to be a plan on how to do it,” he said, “and that’s what’s frustrating.”

Neuhaus said the federal government in Washington, D.C., and the government in Albany need to make a decision and officials on the local level need to be a part of the process.

“My job is to protect the citizens of Orange County,” he said.