Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Mayor Eric Adams backs off plan to bus migrants from NYC to suburbs – for now
By
Jon Campbell
Published May 10, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Xinhua/Shutterstock
By
Jon Campbell
Published May 10, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York City paused its plan to send about 60 migrants to an Orange County hotel late Wednesday amid fierce opposition from local Republican officials.
A spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, confirmed the city would no longer send a bus of asylum seekers to a suburban hotel in the town of Newburgh on Wednesday, as originally planned. But he said the city isn’t backing off of its plan, suggesting the stoppage is temporary.
“We’re discussing legal and safety concerns with our state partners, and while we have paused tonight, our plans have not changed,” mayoral spokesperson Fabien Levy said Wednesday night.
Levy’s statement came after Orange County sheriff’s deputies and Newburgh town police spent the day staked out at The Crossroads Hotel just off I-84, where Adams’ office was expected to direct a busload of single male migrants who had been sheltered in New York City and volunteered for relocation.
Earlier in the week, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, a Republican, had signed an executive order prohibiting hotels in the county from housing the migrants, arguing the county code prohibits short-term hotels from taking on long-term tenants.
The police officers were stationed at the hotel to enforce the order, according to Neuhaus, who said they were there to keep the peace and were not expected to make any arrests.
At the same time, Neuhaus and Adams’ offices were in contact with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration. Earlier Wednesday, Hochul said her office was assessing whether Neuhaus’ order — along with a similar state of emergency issued by Rockland County Executive Ed Day — was constitutional.
Hochul also said her office was working to find additional space to shelter migrants, both inside the city and outside it.
“I'm working very closely with the mayor to identify more sites where we can welcome these individuals,” the Democratic governor told reporters in Manhattan.
On Friday, Adams’ office announced it would begin sending migrants in its care to hotels in Rockland and Orange counties as a way of alleviating its shelter capacity issues. The city would be responsible for the cost of lodging, feeding and caring for the asylum seekers.
New York City has more than 37,000 asylum seekers currently in its care, according to the mayor’s office. That number is expected to grow following Thursday’s expiration of a federal, COVID-era order that made it easier for the government to turn migrants away at the border.
The Rockland and Orange county executives, both Republicans, fought back, with the Rockland town of Orangetown winning a restraining order that temporarily prohibited the city from executing its plan in that county.
Neuhaus, the Orange executive, said in a Facebook video Wednesday evening that he’s been informed New York City won’t be busing migrants to his county for the “near future.”
“That doesn’t mean that the issue is not solved and the issue is not going away,” Neuhaus said. “And by the way, I am a trust-but-verify person, so I will stay attuned to this.”
Neuhaus said he and Adams had “some very, very heated conversation,” but he’s “happy that they have some sort of resolution.”
Tagged
new york city
housing
Jon Campbell
Jon Campbell covers the New York State Capitol for WNYC and Gothamist. Prior to that, he covered the Capitol for more than a decade for the USA TODAY Network. He has twice earned the Walter T. Brown Memorial Award, an honor given annually by the Legislative Correspondents Association alumni for outstanding state government coverage. Jon grew up in the Buffalo area and graduated from the University at Albany. Got a tip? Email Jon at [email protected] or Signal at JonCampbellNY.90.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .