Erie County is halting the arrival of asylum seekers after arrests
The National Guard is being sent to all hotels in Erie County that are currently housing asylum seekers.
Author: WGRZ Staff
Published: 12:47 PM EDT August 12, 2023
Updated: 11:24 PM EDT August 12, 2023
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Transportation of asylum seekers to Erie County has been paused following the arrest of an asylum seeker in Cheektowaga on Friday.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz also announced that the National Guard is being sent to all hotels in Erie County that are currently housing asylum seekers. The National Guard is being sent to be a "stabilizing presence." It will take the guards members a few days to arrive.
Poloncarz said there is currently uniformed security at the hotels.
"Our community's trust and good faith has been betrayed. New York City needs to fix this," Poloncarz said.
An asylum seeker was arrested and charged with sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment after an incident involving a woman working with the asylum seekers. The suspect, Kindu Jeancy, 22, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was staying at the Best Western at 601 Dingens Street in the Town of Cheektowaga.
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/crime/erie-county-halting-the-arrival-of-asylum-seekers-western-new-york/71-e1e41b70-fff6-4050-959a-dab42a263171