A little over a year has passed since asylum seekers from New York City first arrived on charter buses at the Crossroads Hotel and Ramada Inn in the Town of Newburgh. While no additional buses have been reported arriving in Orange County, immigration remains a hot-button issue during the political season.

Town of Newburgh Supervisor Gil Piaquadio recently reported that 60 migrants are currently housed at the Crossroads Hotel. He said there has been no significant police activity, aside from the theft of a license plate from a hotel-owned vehicle. There is no evidence a migrant was involved. Police have also been to the Ramada Inn, but their presence has not been related to the migrants.

Ramada Inn management did not respond to requests for comment regarding the number of asylum seekers staying there. A Google search lists the Crossroads Hotel as permanently closed, but a site visit found the hotel still operating, with asylum seekers housed there. The hotel manager declined to comment.

The town drew media attention in May 2023 when buses from New York City arrived at the two hotels. Most asylum seekers were men from South America and other countries, seeking work to support their families. Some came to the U.S. to escape turbulent situations.

Their arrival was part of a program announced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, offering four months of temporary housing and services in counties across New York State. The program was heavily criticized by the Orange County Executive’s office, which declared a state of emergency in an attempt to block the arrival of asylum seekers. Despite this, buses continued to bring them to the hotels. Several lawsuits followed against the hotels, Mayor Adams, and the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Social Services.

Local leaders and advocates, including Orange County Legislators Kevindaryán Luján and Genesis Ramos, Newburgh City Council member Giselle Martinez, and organizers from For The Many, welcomed the migrants. Rabbi Douglas Kohn of Temple Beth Jacob and Reverend Mary Lou Baumgartner of King of Kings Church also offered support. Rural & Migrant Ministry, Inc. hosted asylum seekers at their retreat center, providing recreation and resources.

For The Many, a grassroots organization focused on improving the quality of life for New Yorkers, has been assisting asylum seekers by connecting them with the local community and supporting legislation such as the Coverage for All bill, which would extend health coverage to undocumented New York residents. The New York Immigration Coalition and Make the Road New York are leading the advocacy for the bill.

“We are focused on making sure that when folks arrive in places like Newburgh and other areas, they can turn to our organization and our community partners for the support they need,” said Jenny Kutner, For The Many’s communications lead.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has been working with various government agencies, labor unions, service providers, and nonprofit organizations to support asylum seekers and connect them to employment opportunities. A department representative explained that while the NYSDOL acts as a broker connecting asylum seekers with businesses, it does not track their employment status.

The department has reportedly worked with nearly 11,000 individuals, held more than 50 hiring events with over 3,000 attendees, made 18,000 job match referrals, and heard from nearly 1,300 businesses offering over 46,000 jobs. However, the NYSDOL does not require asylum seekers to report back, so it cannot provide comprehensive data on employment outcomes.

In national politics, the recent presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on Sept. 10 included a discussion on immigration policy, reflecting the ongoing focus on the issue.

According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. foreign-born population reached a record 46.1 million in 2022. Mexico remains the top country of birth for U.S. immigrants, with 10.6 million immigrants from Mexico living in the U.S. that year. The majority of U.S. immigrants are here legally, with 49% being naturalized citizens, 24% lawful permanent residents, 4% legal temporary residents, and 23% unauthorized immigrants.

The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan organization that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, and social science studies.