Orange County sues NYC regarding immigration program

The Orange County government has filed a lawsuit against New York City to halt a voluntary program moving hundreds of migrants north for the next four months.

The lawsuit was coupled with legal challenges to housing migrants at a hotel in Newburgh. The town of Newburgh also sued to block the migrants from staying at the hotel.

The lawsuit alleges New York City is trying to establish “an illegal homeless shelter in Orange County.” The lawsuit comes after Rockland County filed a legal challenge that led to a judge temporarily barring New York City from housing migrants there.

So far, more than 60 migrants have been moved to Orange County in the last several days, according to the lawsuit. The suit seeks a similar injunction to the one in place for Rockland County.

Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier in the day held a conference call with county leaders outlining efforts to receive from more federal aid from President Joe Biden’s administration.

In response to the lawsuit, Fabien Levy, the New York City mayor’s press secretary, said the city has cared for more than 65,000 migrants “largely without incident.”

“We need the federal government to step up, but until they do, we need other elected officials around the state and country to do their part,” Levy wrote in a statement Friday night.

“Right now, we’re asking Orange County to manage less than 1/4 of 1% of the asylum seekers who have come to New York City, with New York paying for shelter, food, and services. We are reviewing our legal options.”