BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Across the country, more than 20 governors say they’re against the plan to resettle Syrian refugees escaping from war.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has not addressed the issue but his opinion will have no bearing on whether refugees are placed in Erie County. Resettlement is a two year process that doesn’t involve the state or local governments.
Erie County lawmakers have been debating the issue since the Paris attacks on Friday.
“It’s so bad over there people are coming in at an expedited rate,” said Joseph Lorigo, the majority leader for the Erie County Legislature. “When the head of the FBI says that they can’t properly vet these people based on the current vetting procedures, I think we have to have a discussion.”
Lorigo wants County Executive Mark Poloncarz to reverse his stance on accepting Syrian refugees. He’s calling for a public hearing to address the issue but even with that conversation, the county’s only option is to petition the federal government.
“It’s not even Governor Cuomo’s office, it’s the federal government and they work closely with charitable organizations,” said State Assemblyman Sean Ryan.
Ryan has seen an influx of refugees in his district, which includes Buffalo’s West Side.
The United Nations and U.S. Embassies recommend refugees for relocation to the United States, according to the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement. After an extensive screening process, the federal government works with nine voluntary agencies to place the refugees.
Local organizations like Journey’s End and Catholic Charities take over once the refugees arrive by helping them find housing and other resources.
The resettlement process takes about two years,
“It would take at least until 2017 for anyone who’s entering the refugee pipeline to end up in Western New York so there’s no idea of immediacy,” said Assemblyman Ryan.
Refugees already in the system could get here sooner. Eighteen Syrian refugees have settled in Erie County since Oct. 2014, according to state officials. There may be as many as 300 more refugees arriving in the next year.
“The folks that are coming here are running from the same people doing heinous acts all over the world so I feel a great deal of empathy for them,“ said Amanda Crotty, who lives in Buffalo with her husband and three kids.
She told News 4 they hope to sponsor a Syrian family to help them get basic essentials and get adjusted to life in Western New York.
“If my family and I were in a situation like this, I would hope someone would want to help us,” said Crotty.
The refugees do get some help from Erie County. County Executive Poloncarz said the Department of Social Services will work with individuals to see if they apply for federal or state benefits.
