Shawna to Migrants: “You will be Welcomed”

by Robert Lynch; May 16, 2023

“We would commit to as robust and compassionate accommodation as we are able to offer.” Shawna Black, flanked by legislative clerks, as she delivered her remarks Tuesday.

Best never tell Greg Abbott or Ron DeSantis what Chair Shawna Black said to the Tompkins County Legislature Tuesday night.  The Texas or Florida governors might just send several busloads of border-crossing Latin American migrants Ithaca’s way.

“Those who seek asylum in Tompkins County will be welcomed as our new neighbors,” Black told the County Legislature near the start of its Tuesday biweekly meeting, the Legislature’s leader making her first widely-aired comment on the potential transfer of busloads of migrants from the southern border to Tompkins County.  They’d  likely come by way of New York City, ordered by Governor Hochul or New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Black’s nearly four-minute, 500-word prepared statement, which she read aloud to the Legislature, struck a decidedly accommodating, liberal tone.  It stood in marked contrast to statements made in recent days by leaders from Tompkins County’s more conservative neighbors, some who’ve declared states of emergency or otherwise informed New York officials to avoid transferring any southern migrants to their communities, places like Schuyler, Tioga and Broome Counties.

“Tompkins County has always prided itself in being a caring, accepting and open community,” Shawna Black told her fellow legislators.  “In the future, Tompkins County may be in a position to welcome asylum seekers.  If given the opportunity, we would do so with coordinated resources and open communication with the state, local partners and our community.” 

Following her statement Tuesday night, delivered a half-hour into the Legislature’s two-hour meeting, Black’s fellow Democrats in Legislative Chambers responded with applause.  Yet not all clapped.  Republicans Lee Shurtleff and Mike Sigler sat in silence.

Tuesday’s marked the first meeting of the County Legislature since the federal government lifted the pandemic-era Title 42 restrictions that had impeded the arrival of undocumented immigrants crossing the southern border seeking asylum.  Although a flood of asylum seekers had been expected following Title 42’s expiration last Thursday night, that surge of migrants has proven smaller than many expected, the number of border crossings actually having declined from those days prior to Title 42’s expiration.

Nonetheless, the unpredictability of future border crossings has fueled fears among some that a renewed surge could follow in the days ahead.  Last Thursday, speaking before the Newfield Town Board, County Legislator Randy Brown had warned that Governor Kathy Hochul might direct as many as ten busloads of southern migrants from New York City to Tompkins County.  No such transfers have yet to occur.

Brown had last Thursday also informed the Newfield meeting that Legislature Chair Black had pushed back to unnamed state officials on the prospect of migrant transfers to the level that Brown had suggested.  Black’s prepared remarks Tuesday made no reference to any initiatives on her part of blunt the number of new arrivals.  Nonetheless, the Chair was careful to refer to any southern arrivals only in the future tense, and she always generalized as to their numbers.

And of note, Shawna Black always referred to potential arrivals by the politically-correct term of “asylum seekers,” not “migrants.”

“Right now as we await more information, we’re asking the community to be patient,” Shawna Black told the Legislature. “If we are to receive asylum seekers, we would commit to as robust and compassionate accommodations as we are able to offer,” she continued. “In any case, we would only be able to effectively welcome a limited number of asylum seekers.  We’re in coordination with relevant community partners on how we might house and deliver services to these individuals.”

Most clapped; a couple didn’t; reaction to Shawna Black’s statement.

But the overall welcoming nature of Shawna Black’s statement may become what’s most off-putting to some conservatives.  Every sentence of Black’s statement carried the message of an outstretched hand that stopped just short of spreading unlimited open arms.

“The United States has an imperfect immigration and asylum system,” she said.  “Regardless of delays in inaction at the state and federal levels, welcoming communities like ours can do our small part to offer safe harbor.”

In an odd twist near the end of her remarks, Black conflated the potential migrant arrival with Ithaca’s continuing, unsolved homelessness problem. It suggested that perhaps Black fears that the unplanned arrivals from the border could aggravate local housing shortages and make it even more difficult for Ithaca’s already unhoused to find permanent shelter. 

“I want to be very transparent with the facts that actions to potentially house asylum seekers come as our local homelessness issue is growing,” Black told the Legislature.  “We acknowledge that.  Regardless of how this plays out, we can no longer endlessly debate proposals and leave them in need and unhoused without action to ensure stable housing and effective services.”

Some might have thought that Shawna Black’s statement Tuesday would have prompted a thorough legislative airing of the border migrant problem, especially given that Tuesday’s legislative agenda was comparably light.  It had no such effect.  The Legislature took no action in response to the Chairwoman’s comment.  Indeed, virtually nothing more was said on the topic all night by anyone else.

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A full transcript of Shawna Black’s comment to the Legislature follows:

“I want to make sure that you have the facts and some of the information as far as where Tompkins County is headed:

“Tompkins County has always prided itself in being a caring, accepting and open community.  As we observed during the pandemic, we have the tools and people to manage an emergency, coordinate with our partners, and to communicate with our community. 

“In the future, Tompkins County may be in a position to welcome asylum seekers.  If given the opportunity, we would do so with coordinated resources and open communication with the state, local partners and our community. 

“Tens of thousands of asylum seekers have been transported from southern U.S. to New York City over the past several months.  The City says that few resources remain available to house the newcomers.  After calls from other counties for more communication and coordination with the City and the State, the Governor said that her team is working to first increase resources to New York City.  They’re also considering options where some asylum seekers may be relocated to more welcoming communities upstate.

“Plans are in development for if we were to receive asylum seekers.  Our Administration, Emergency Response, Social Services, and Sheriff’s Department staff are working diligently and staying informed on the issues as they develop.  We are fortunate to have a caring community with so much good will.  As with any challenge or opportunity, we have relied on our residents, businesses, religious organizations and not-for-profits to work with this to ensure safe and positive outcomes. I expect the same if we were to welcome asylum seekers. 

“Right now as we await more information, we’re asking the community to be patient.  If we are to receive asylum seekers, we would commit to as robust and compassionate accommodations as we are able to offer.  In any case, we would only be able to effectively welcome a limited number of asylum seekers.  We’re in coordination with relevant community partners on how we might house and deliver services to these individuals. 

“I want to be very transparent with the facts that actions to potentially house asylum seekers come as our local homelessness issue is growing.  We acknowledge that.  Regardless of how this plays out, we can no longer endlessly debate proposals and leave them in need and unhoused without action to ensure stable housing and effective services. 

“I would challenge us to consider comparably rapid brainstorming, leadership and political will to house people in Tompkins County.  Yes, it’s complicated.  But it is also possible.  The United States has an imperfect immigration and asylum system.  Regardless of delays in inaction at the state and federal levels, welcoming communities like ours can do our small part to offer safe harbor.

“As with many things in government, this is about balancing; creating a community where people feel safe, cared for, and each person can contribute.  As we navigate uncertain times, our goal as a County Government will be focused on transparent and timely communication to our constituents.  We continue to look to our highly qualified staff for information and direction.

“In closing, those who seek asylum in Tompkins County will be welcomed as our new neighbors.”

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