Schuyler becomes 4th Southern Tier county to declare State of Emergency due to migrant crisis

SCHUYLER COUNTY, N.Y. (WENY) -- Schuyler County became the fourth county Thursday in the Southern Tier to declare a State of Emergency with Title 42 set to expire at midnight. Issued by County Attorney Steven Getman on behalf of County Legislative Chair Carl Blowers, it argues Schuyler doesn't have the resources and has no legal requirement to provide services to asylum seekers and migrants. 

"I have reason to believe that illegal immigrants, migrants and/ or asylum seekers could be transported to Schuyler County; and there is no reason to believe that these migrants or asylum seekers will leave Schuyler County," Schuyler's State of Emergency reads. 

Along with listing concerns about the lack of resources and the fact that Schuyler is the second least populated county in New York, the State of Emergency says there is no legal basis requiring Schuyler to provide services to migrants or asylum seekers. It also lists abutting Tompkins County, which it says has, "effectively labeled itself a sanctuary county."

Like State of Emergencies from neighboring counties, it states that no business or person in the county can make a contract with a municipality transporting or housing migrants or asylum seekers to Schuyler. It also allows for fines of anyone housing or transporting migrants or asylum seekers in Schuyler of up to $2,000 per individual. 

The State of Emergency also allows the Schuyler County Sheriff to make stops of anyone suspected of transporting or housing migrants to notify them of the restrictions of the emergency order. Anyone found guilty of violating the order faces a Class B Misdemeanor. 

The order goes into effect immediately and is set to last for the next five days with the option to renew it as needed. 

A full copy of the State of Emergency can be found below.