Suffolk Leg To Vote On Hiring Counsel To Discuss Migrants: Report

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Suffolk lawmakers are poised to vote Thursday on hiring legal counsel to explore options for blocking people seeking asylum from being directed to the county for shelter, Newsday reported.

A special meeting has been scheduled at 9 a.m. at the William H. Rogers legislature building in Hauppauge, according to the report.

Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, a Republican from Lindenhurst, told the outlet that lawmakers have not chosen an attorney, saying "the idea behind this is to hire outside counsel that has expertise in municipal law " and is able to "direct" the legislature on what their options are if New York City "or anyone" sends migrants to the county.

For more in Newsday, click here.

There have not been any specific plans put forth for transporting asylum seekers to Suffolk.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced an emergency order, creating an intergovernmental body that would coordinate a response to migrant housing.

The executive order also formalizes the county’s objection to the city’s approach of busing asylum seekers to random hotels across the state, "which is a disservice to both county residents and the individuals seeking asylum," according to a news release.

The emergency order "instead reiterates the county’s calls for a coordinated approach in which the state will serve as the lead agency, working to identify potential federal and state sites to temporarily house asylum seekers," the news release stated.

Stony Brook University was identified as a location to possibly receive people for housing.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday said officials are reviewing all of the state's assets, including schools, to see what is appropriate.

Two weeks ago, claims that migrants could be shipped to locations in Riverhead prompted Supervisor Yvette Aguiar to declare a State of Emergency.