'Influx of migrants' strains Rockland, Day and Lawler say; protesters say immigrants contribute

NEW CITY − Rockland County Executive Ed Day and U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler slated a Thursday morning press conference on the steps of the county office building "to provide an update on the impact of the influx of migrants to Rockland County."

A small group of immigration activists, most with signs, gathered in front. The event was moved inside, with county officials citing a threat of rain. Access to the building was limited to credentialed press.

Inside, the two Republican officials described the strain from "migrants and immigrants" on government services and nonprofits, as well as the risks that people who are undocumented face.

Demonstrators' chants could be heard in the background: "Say it loud, say it clear! Immigrants are welcome here!"

Immigration's impacts

Among the impacts cited by Day and Lawler:

• A wave of minors coming across the border had strained the East Ramapo school district, where about 1,000 new immigrant students had joined the district, increasing the public school census by nearly 10%. The district covers the greater Spring Valley area, a village that has long been a newcomer community.

• The county's foster care system had seen a 35% increase in children. Rockland County Department of Social Services Commissioner Joan Silvestri said the biggest factor for a child ending up in foster care is poverty. Meanwhile, under federal rules, DSS cannot offer many supports to people who are not residents or citizens, which increases a family's risk of poverty.

• Food pantries were running out of food because so many more people were showing up in need. "People here who rely on our pantries are shut out," Day said. Meanwhile, feeding programs have been warning that a March 1 rollback in federal SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps, was going to send more people their way.

Outside, demonstrators pointed out that people who have undocumented status pay property and other taxes, and contribute to the workforce and fabric of the county.

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The county did not provide the number of new residents in Rockland who are undocumented.

Bipartisan and partisan

Lawler said he and other new members of Congress were planning a bipartisan working group to address solutions to U.S. immigration policy. "You have multiple challenges here that have to be addressed," Lawler said. "This is going to require a comprehensive approach."

Lawler said he was working with U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, to form the group. Garcia, who like Lawler joined Congress in 2023, serves as the ranking Democratic member on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs.

A request for comment from Garcia's office was not immediately returned.

Day said the two Republicans wanted to share their concerns about increasing numbers of undocumented people coming into the Rockland community without "politicization."

Lawler, though, dipped into partisanship.

"We have a humanitarian crisis in our country at the southern border," said Lawler, who represents the 17th Congressional District that includes Rockland and Putnam counties, and northern Westchester and southern Dutchess counties. "It's a failure and dereliction of duty on the part of the federal government and the (Biden) administration."

He later added that both parties, over the past 40 years, have failed to address immigration reform in any substantive way. "Since Reagan," he said.

Lawler said the border needs to be secured because of the swell of people crossing, but that immigrants contribute to the U.S. society. "It is finding the compromise between the two."

Lawler, whose wife is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Moldova, added, "We are a nation of immigrants."

Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Undocumented immigrants strain local governments, Rockland leaders say