“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free.” The words of Emma Lazarus attached to the Statue of Liberty in 1903 have new meaning for citizens of the Hudson Valley.
Recently about 180 immigrants were transported from New York City and placed in two local motels. The arrival was met with shock and dismay by some. The arrival was followed by the claim that the arrival of immigrants forced homeless Veterans out of their motel rooms. Almost immediately local news and the New York Post trumpeted headlines “Vets kicked out for immigrants” After initial outcry and hysteria it was revealed that the news was “Fake News.” The story was planted by a local foundation called The YIT Foundation and was quickly recognized as fake. Politicians and pundits scrambled to apologize and distance themselves. The incident was a classic case of fear mongering and promoting the “them and us hysteria.”
The incident is graphic evidence of the dysfunction of our nation’s Immigration laws and practices. The arrival of the immigrants was poorly organized, poorly executed and appropriate communication was sorely lacking. Despite the difficulty, the movement of the Immigrants was for a good cause. The immigrants became pawns in a familiar game of blame and hate. The immigrants should not be stigmatized, they should be welcomed and supported. The Nation, New York State and the Hudson Valley need the Immigrants and their families. We need young hardworking men and women. For decades, our region has depended on Migrant Workers to sustain our Agricultural Industry. Without the influx of labor, the Agriculture Industry would collapse and prices would skyrocket. Our service industry, and increasingly our health care industry depends on new citizens to fill positions opening up by retirement.
The hypocrisy of the hate mongers is breath-taking. Almost without exception, those railing and protesting are themselves the descendants of immigrants, starting with the Colonists arriving in the New World. My relative Captain John Browning brought immigrants to Jamestown on the good ship Abigail in 1620. Then came then the waves of Immigrants. One hundred years ago, thousands of Immigrants came here to find the American Dream of a good life and a safe place to raise their families. The 1970s saw a new wave of immigrants coming to the Hudson Valley,these the sons and daughters of older immigrants living in the Bronx and Queens came to the Hudson Valley. They filled our schools, many our teachers also came from NYC to teach the children of the new arrivals.
Those who fear and dread the arrival of the new immigrants should recall that they themselves are relatives of families who arrived here “yearning to be free.”

Our dysfunctional Immigration system must be examined and drastic changes implemented. It is in the interest of all Americans that these changes be made. We can do this!