Carmel, NY – Yesterday, following a call with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and County officials throughout New York, Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne sent a letter (see attached) to the Mayor’s office expressing deep concern about the plans to relocate asylum seekers to Hudson Valley counties without proper coordination with local municipalities. In the letter, County Executive Byrne requests Mayor Adams’ advocacy in communicating the dismay with President Joe Biden and demanding a comprehensive federal immigration policy to address the thousands of people crossing the nations southern border daily. The letter also highlights yesterday’s expiration of Title 42, which is expected to put an even greater strain on the ever-growing backlog of immigration court cases.

“It is critical that this crisis is addressed at the federal level. The Biden Administration’s lack of planning has put communities throughout New York State in this perilous position,” said County Executive Byrne. “We understand that this humanitarian crisis is not of Mayor Adams’ making, but it is NYC that has chosen to take on this responsibility, not Putnam County. I appreciated the mayor’s office finally deciding to be transparent, but it’s a little late for that. They set in motion a plan to send migrants to Orange and Rockland weeks ago, and only just informed those municipalities days before it would happen.

Following the call with Mayor Adams, County Executive Byrne convened a call with all town supervisors and village mayors in Putnam County to share information as this crisis emerges. During the call, the County Executive updated officials on the current situation and potential actions the County could take moving forward.

County Executive Byrne and his office have been in communication with all neighboring counties (Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Westchester) about their plans moving forward, in an effort to foster transparency in the face of a lack of transparency from NYC, the federal government, and the state of New York.