Vehicle Dropping Off Dozens In Hampton Bays Sparks Concerns

EAST END, NY — A photo that's been widely circulated on social media in past days depicts a large white bus or van parking outside Macy's in Hampton Bays. Many have recirculated the photo, which shows a large group disembarking with suitcases and other bags and belongings.

The photo has sparked an outcry on social media, many expressing concerns about the possibility that migrants have been sent from New York City to the area.

"Unbelievable," one person wrote.

"This is no longer our town," another added.

Those posting commented on the new suitcases the group appeared to be carrying and the fact that cars were waiting to pick them up.

Southampton Town Police Lt. Todd Spencer said a "suspicious incident" had been reported to the department Tuesday at 7:27 p.m. "The reporting officer received multiple reports of a large white van unloading approximately 40 to 50 individuals with luggage in the parking lot in front of Macy's. Upon arrival, the bus was no longer on scene," and the individuals were gone, as well, the report said. An officer interviewed a man who said that he'd seen the bus and the people, who were all picked up by cars within minutes of unloading, the report said. Police searched the area for the bus without success.

When asked about residents' concerns, Spencer said: "We believe there is truth to the matter. We have received some photographs but have no firsthand knowledge, nor did any officers witness it. We have been advised that most all of the subjects dropped off were immediately picked up by vehicles. It is possible that they were seasonal migrants who come annually for work, but that is speculation."

Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore said she spoke with Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan, who confirmed that the passengers were dropped off by a bus at Macy's Tuesday night at about 7 p.m.; all were picked up by private vehicles within a few minutes.

"We do not know where they came from or where they were going," Moore said. "But we do know that every spring local businesses hire H2-A visa workers to fill seasonal jobs. We're not aware of any other municipality sending individuals here."

A representative for Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said he had no comment. New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele and New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo both said they had no information on the issue. Rep. Nick LaLota did not respond to a request for comment, and a request for comment from New York City Mayor Eric Adams was not immediately answered.

Some residents claimed to have seen large groups of individuals dropped off in Riverhead.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard said he had "nothing" in terms of information on the concerns but did say an emergency put in place by former Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar, to keep asylum seekers from flooding the community, was still in place.

Aguiar, speaking with Patch Wednesday, said she "unequivocally" believed that migrants were being sent to the East End, with Patchogue as the hub from which the buses departed.

Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski also said he'd heard residents discussing the matter in the last week and reached out to Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, who told him he'd had no reports on the matter.

New York State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio said she'd investigate.

In September, New York City dropped a lawsuit against the Town of Riverhead in regard to the migrant crisis that led Aguiar to issue state of emergency declarations, preventing asylum seekers from being sent to town.

Aguiar said that New York City had officially filed a notice of voluntary discontinuance; that notice, issued by the New York State Supreme Court, County of Suffolk was dated September 13.

Aguiar's emergency orders, which commenced on May 16, 2023, have been renewed weekly.

"The executive order/state of emergency became necessary, when I became aware that New York City planned to bus asylum seekers to our hotels and other lodging facilities within the Town of Riverhead on May 16, 2023," Aguiar said.

Aguiar stated that New York City officials were in the process of busing homeless asylum seekers to Riverhead to be housed in local hotels for periods "in excess of what is permitted in our town code and without rental permits."

She added that "not only would this type of emergency housing be in violation of our codes, in addition, it would limit hotel space during our busiest tourist season, thereby threatening the existing local jobs and the economy our community depends on. Further, the town was not notified or consulted in connection with New York City’s plan, and we would have been unable to accommodate these individuals."

Aguiar asserted that the town needed to be protected from NYC’s "poor decisions" and not, in her opinion, appropriately addressing the humanitarian crisis.

The executive order/state of emergency declaration prohibited hotels and other short term lodging facilities from accepting homeless individuals, specifically asylum seekers, to the Town of Riverhead and further directed that homeless shelters in town not displace its own homeless population.

"The executive order was necessary to protect our town residents as well as asylum seekers from being housed in violation of our town code," Aguiar said.

New York City officials then commenced litigation to have the local executive order vacated.

"I am glad that this chapter has concluded and that our actions in protecting our community from the fallout created by New York City’s chaos for the asylum seekers, and attempt to mitigate this federal issue in Riverhead, has come to a close," she said at the time.

All towns should be afforded their own home rule, she said, thanking city officials for understanding Riverhead’s individual town zoning statutes, as well as those across other towns statewide.

"Furthermore, this is a humanitarian crisis, which must be addressed by the federal government and New York City," she said.

In her interview with Patch Wednesday, Aguiar said the issue was not a new one. She said she personally has seen people being "dropped off with gallons of water and their belongings" at the Riverhead train station.

Patchogue, she maintained, is the "main hub for the East End, a migrant processing center. They are being dropped off in different towns."

When she first issued the emergency order, Aguiar said calls were made to Riverhead hotels from New York City asking to rent floors for six months; later, she said, calls were made asking for conference rooms.

Aguiar said she believes migrants are staying in hotels; others have family members and some, she said, are living in encampments in the woods. Some, she said, are leaving the East End for other locations. Many can be seen waiting for buses on the East End, she said.

The buses and coach vans that drop off the individuals, Aguiar said, are white, "nondescript, with no name."

When asked if she believes that migrants are being brought to the East End, Aguiar said: "There is a very high likelihood that the circumstances are indicating that they are," she said. "This is unequivocally happening in Riverhead."