A small western New York community is facing an influx of illegal immigrants that some residents fear could overwhelm city resources and squeeze the budget, as has been the case in New York City.
At least 35 immigrants from Colombia are believed to have arrived in the city of Jamestown since late last year and a prominent Hispanic advocate says more are on the way, the New York Post reported.
“Colombians are already here and more are coming. What is the government going to do about it?” asked Chautauqua County Hispanic Community Council President Max Martin. “They need housing and transportation or to be allowed to work and get a driver’s license.”
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Martin said immigrants “will have to work illegally to survive” if nothing is done, saying “many” of them have been offered fake Social Security numbers and cards.
Brenda and her children share a house with the migrant Ricaurte.
(Dan Cappellazzo for NY Post)
“I am concerned that they will be forced to resort to crimes such as drug sales,” Martin said.
Several immigrants told the Post that they arrived in Jamestown, population 28,000, after hearing about other immigrants crossing the border illegally in El Paso, Texas.
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“I was detained for two months,” a migrant named Paola told the outlet. “When I was detained I met a Colombian who told me to come to Jamestown.”
Carlos lives in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with 12 other people.
(Dan Cappellazzo for NY Post)
Paola said she shares a three-bedroom house with 10 other migrants. The Post reported that many of the migrants came to the United States because of gang violence and political instability in Colombia.
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“If a city of 8 million people can be overwhelmed by a couple thousand immigrants, imagine what a couple hundred can do to overwhelm a small rural community upstate?” New York State Republican Sen. George Borrello, who represents Jamestown, told the newspaper.
A mother and her children use devices while on the couch.
(Dan Cappellazzo for NY Post)
“It wouldn’t take a lot of immigrants to overwhelm the system.”
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Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, a Democrat, told Fox News Digital that the city is “mindful of the five families who have made Jamestown their home as they actively work through the asylum process.”
Sundquist said his office has been working directly with the church that supports families and has been in contact with state and federal partners to secure additional resources if needed.
“My administration has, and continues to put, the health and well-being of individuals first, and my staff have stayed in touch with these families as they move through the asylum process,” Sundquist said.
