The federal government is moving illegal immigrants to Orange County, New York, according to an email to The Epoch Times from the County Executive Office on Oct. 28.
The office had been seeking further information from federal sources—such as the number of illegal immigrants in the county and the locations they are taken to—but got none, according to the email.
“These are plans directed by the federal government based on federal policies. We certainly believe the federal government and state officials should be providing the public with [more] information,” the email says.
County Executive Steven Neuhaus first mentioned the placement of illegal immigrants during an Oct. 20 video address on his public Facebook page.
“I do see illegal immigrants now having a foothold and wanting to stay in Orange County. That’s the best information I can get to you right now,” Neuhaus said in the video.
“It is temporary, and I will let you know what that permanent story looks like,” he added.
In the past two months, at least three federally chartered flights carrying illegal immigrant minors landed at Orange County airport without advance notice to the county government.
Federal employees told Neuhaus that none of the children—who were flown from Texas—would be placed inside Orange County, according to a previous interview with Neuhaus.
But Neuhaus told The Epoch Times that he wasn’t sure if he was told the truth.
“We don’t know which federal agencies are transporting these children, where these children are going, or whom they are going to be housed with,” Neuhaus said in the previous interview. “The federal government really needs to be more forthcoming and transparent with local officials and the public and answer our questions.”
Following the two sets of flights, the Orange County Department of Social Services received an email from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services asking whether the county can help house runaway and homeless immigrants, the County Executive Office told The Epoch Times on Oct. 14.
The office said the email contained sensitive information and declined to release it to the publication.
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Cara is an Orange County, New York-based Epoch Times reporter. She can be reached at cara.ding@epochtimes.com
