Two New York GOP leaders are calling for answers from the Biden administration over secretly transporting migrants across the U.S. after dozens of Columbian immigrants have moved to the upstate community of Jamestown.
Republican Reps. Claudia Tenney and Elise Stefanik expressed their concern in a Wednesday letter that was co-signed by fellow New York GOP Congressmen Nick Langworthy, Michael Lawler, and Marc Molinaro.
“We write following reports that your administration is actively settling migrants in Upstate New York communities,” the letter, obtained by the New York Post, stated.
“[W]e wish to express our outrage at the secrecy with which your administration has and continues to carry out these national relocation operations,” the lawmakers wrote. “This unprecedented influx of migrants into the United States is an obvious sign of your administration’s failed policies at the Southern Border.”
The letter cited a report of more than 30 Columbian migrants living in the city of Jamestown, a community of just over 28,000 people. The Western New York town is 285 miles from New York City.
Earlier this month, Republican Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel expressed his concern over the relocation of migrants in Jamestown, seeking support from Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“Even if it’s 100 families, our school districts are small,” Wendel said. “Those schools don’t have the resources. If they don’t have a Spanish teacher, what are they going to do?”
“It could be overwhelming for us because how are we supposed to be helping these people?” he added.
The letter to the Biden administration is seeking information on how the White House is monitoring the status and locations of the migrants they’ve relocated since January 2021. They are also requesting the destination of migrants that have been relocated to New York State since January 2021, among other demands.
Stefanik, the House Republican Conference chair, also blasted the Biden administration for “open border policies” she views as a threat to national security.
“Joe Biden’s open border policies have made every state a border state, and Far Left Albany Democrats’ radical agenda is exacerbating the impact of the Biden border crisis in New York,” Stefanik said last month, according to The Post-Journal.
The letter comes as New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams has continued highlighting concerns over the migrant surge. The mayor has stated the influx could cost the city as much as $2 billion.
“With more than 41,000 asylum seekers arriving in New York City since last spring and nearly 28,000 asylum seekers currently in our care, our city is at its breaking point,” Adams said in a Saturday press release.
Adams also announced that New York City would temporarily house migrants at a cruise ship terminal.
In addition to migrants bused to New York from Texas, the Biden administration has reportedly flown migrants into the state. In July, The Daily Wire reported two flights had transported migrants to Westchester County. The migrants were reportedly shuttled from the flights on buses to other locations in New York.