Here was what Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz had to say in May about the upstate New York area getting a flood of illegal alien migrants.
“I have been advised by representatives of New York State that we will soon be joined by an as-yet unknown number of asylum-seekers, people who have been forced out of their own countries by authoritarian rulers or for other serious life-threatening reasons. These individuals are all legally in the country seeking asylum, have been vetted by federal authorities prior to arriving here and will be coming from New York City.”
“It should be noted, over the past decade and more, approximately 12,000 refugees have moved into and through our area as part of the good work that the Refugee Partnership does, all without fanfare and without the ridiculous fears stoked by xenophobic and ill-informed community members. Some stay here and some move on but all of these people come here seeking to build their own American dream, provide for themselves and their families, and become productive members of our society.
“In fact, due to the exemplary work of the Refugee Partnership, currently there are hundreds of refugees and asylum-seekers in Erie County from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Congo, Ecuador, Somalia, Ukraine, Venezuela and more. These people are not a threat to our community and are only looking for the opportunity to pursue their dream of living in a free, democratic society.”
Now, Mark has changed his tune.
“As we have done for years, Erie County opened its arms to try and welcome these new Americans. Unfortunately there is no way to make the program as presently run sustainable. Two serious, violent crimes in two weeks are two too many. Our refugee agencies did their best to provide support and assistance, but our community’s trust and good faith have been betrayed. We were assured of safety, security, and proper screening. Clearly that hasn’t been done.”
What recent incidents is the Democratic official referring to?
A top upstate Dem official and previous vocal supporter of housing migrants there now says he will refuse additional resettlements — after a second local alleged sex assault involving an asylum-seeker.
The frustrated pol, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, added that the National Guard will start providing security at the three hotels-turned-migrant shelters in Cheektowaga in Erie within a day or two, after he learned the facilities are not safe, according to a weekend report.
Last week, a migrant from Venezuela who was bussed from New York City to a Cheektowaga hotel was charged with raping a woman in front of a 3-year-old child at the site.
Then an asylum-seeker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was arrested Friday and is being charged with sex abuse and unlawful imprisonment after allegedly sexually assaulting an employee inside the Best Western hotel in Cheektowaga near Buffalo Airport.
It’s a shame that Mark is surrendering to “ridiculous fears stoked by xenophobic and ill-informed community members.”
Doesn’t he know that the man who raped a woman in front of a 3-year-old child had “been vetted by federal authorities” and is one of the “new Americans” looking for democracy… and to vote for Democrats?
But all is not lost.
Mark informs us that, “Erie County will continue to welcome refugees and those seeking shelter under the traditional programs, just as we have for years. These recent incidents shouldn’t color attitudes toward our New American neighbors”.
Bring on the federally vetted new American rapists and don’t let their recent rapes color your attitudes toward the illegal alien rapists.