By Dan Murphy
A federal government program, aimed at reunifying unaccompanied minor children crossing the U.S. Border, became a political issue in Westchester, as the Westchester Airport was used as one location to transfer undocumented teenagers from planes to buses and then to family members.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, oversees the program, and took several days to publicly comment on the planes arriving at Westchester Airport. During those five days, three prominent Westchester republicans attempted to blame the incoming flights and undocumented children on Westchester County Executive George Latimer, despite the fact that Latimer, and County Government, has no oversight or involvement in the HHS program, and Latimer did not know about the flights until late last week.
Former County Executive and republican candidate for Governor Rob Astorino, took to his radio show on WOR AM 710 radio to discuss what limited information he knew about flights with undocumented persons coming into Westchester Airport on Friday Aug. 13.
“This is a question of public safety, of public health, and the public’s right to know, I broke this story Friday on @710WOR: Hundreds of undocumented immigrants from crisis at southern border flown into Westchester Co. Airport each of last several nights. Why was this a secret? Where are they being resettled? Who is paying? Have they been tested for COVID?
Social Media comments and misinformation began to spread over the weekend as County Executive Latimer and his administration were immediately unable to reach HHS, who was slow to respond and explain what was happening.
Finally, on Monday Aug 16, HHS stated, “Children traveling through Westchester are simply on their way to unite with relatives and sponsors — to meet sponsors in Westchester, or just traveling through the area until they reach another destination to unite with family members or legal sponsors. Family members and other legal sponsors live across the country, so it’s no surprise that children would be seen traveling through states.”
“The vast majority of unaccompanied children in our care, age 12 and up, have received their first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. While children are in our care, we follow CDC guidelines and work to protect their health and wellbeing.” said an HHS spokesperson.
Astorino, who is trailingLong Island Congressman Lee Zeldin in his quest to get the republcian nomination for Governor next year, held a press conference at the County Airport with Christine Sculti, republican candidate for Westchester County Executive, to highlight the arrivals.
“George Latimer finally admitted that he was notified at least two days ago that the federal government would begin flying persons who entered the United States illegally into Westchester County Airport. George Latimer’s preposterous claim that he only knew about the flights for 48 hours is completely implausible and defies common sense. Worse are his attempts to claim the valid concerns of residents are driven by ideology and politics. Our concerns are driven by public safety and public health,” said Sculti.
Republican Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater also commented. “There are many questions and concerns about this relocation program and the lack of information shared with county and municipal officials, With local COVID-19 cases again surging, HHS officials must tell local officials about the details of their program, the participants and their vaccination status.”
To answer the questions of Astorino, Sculti and Slater, we found:
1-The young teenagers arriving on HHS flights into Westchester airport are not staying there. They are placed on a bus and then taken to a family member or a legal sponsor.
2-Most of these young adults have been vaccinated.
3-There is no connection, or correlation, to Westchester County governments Immigrant Protection Act, (IPA), and the flights into Westchester Airport. The IPA was passed to codify the apprehension of undocumented residents in Westchester by ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the interaction between ICE and Westchester law enforcement.
4-Even if County Executive Latimer knew about the flights coming into Westchester, (which we do not believe because why lie about something like this?) he would not have been able to change Federal policy or affect the arrival of children on flights coming into Westchester Airport from the HHS.
The issue of immigration and controlling our border is a controversial topic, but it is not under the purview of the leader of Westchester County government.
Westchester democrats and republicans we spoke to are split on this issue. “Why do I think that some of these children getting off the plane will end up in Yonkers, and in the Yonkers Public Schools?” asked one republican. “While I understand that there is nothing that county government can do about, at least we are entitled to know about it.”
Democrats have a completely different view. “The sights of these children getting off the planes makes me wonder how bad their situation must be in the countries that they had to leave, and for their mothers to have them cross the border by themselves. We have a new President, and a new policy towards children crossing the border. I think its time for some of our republican neighbors to deal with that.”
