State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, picked up where he left in 2024 regarding migrants moving into Chautauqua County.

Recently, during a New York State joint legislative budget hearing, Borrello questioned New York City Mayor Eric Adams about ending the city’s sanctuary policies. Borrello said that Adams has moved about 180,000 migrants out of New York City to upstate, including the county.

Borrello added that at the end of 2024, contracts with non-profit organizations had been canceled, and migrants would be moved to New York City, but there has not been any confirmation.

Adams said a substantial amount of people, but not 180,000, moved upstate and found their way, and are trying to make a living.

“You have a beautiful place (in Western New York) that people want to stay,” Adams said to Borrello. “They figured that New York City is not the only place to be.”

Adams confirmed a smaller number of people are moving back to New York City.

“Those who do (come back), they don’t come into our care. They find their way. We do intense training. We give the information on how to survive in the city and the state,” Adams said.

Borrello has been critical of resettling the migrant population. He blamed Democrats for a self-created migrant crisis, which he said, is draining billions of taxpayer dollars and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. “Simply throwing more money at this problem isn’t an answer,” Borrello said in 2024.

In 2023, County Executive PJ Wendel issued two emergency orders in attempt to stop Adams from sending migrants or New York City’s homeless to the county, citing the county’s inability to handle an influx of migrants while the county is already struggling with its own migrant and homeless populations in the county, including in Jamestown.

The orders have been challenged in court by New York City officials.