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The 38 asylum seekers, 14 families in total, arrived in Yonkers on Monday night, May 15 at the Ramada Inn at 125 Tuckahoe Rd., according to Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano.
City officials said that the migrants who arrived Monday are mostly women with young children who were sent from New York City, which will be paying for their room and board.
In a press conference held on Tuesday, May 16, Spano said that the city now plans to treat them as community members.
"They're here, we're going to treat them right," Spano said, adding, "We're going to do what we're supposed to do as a loving community."
He added that this may include providing both adults and children with educational opportunities.
"It is something these young people need the most," said Yonkers Superintendent Edwin M. Quezada, who added that many of the young children may need structured environments that schools can provide them.
Despite the city's willingness to care for the asylum seekers, Spano said that Yonkers will require help from state leaders, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, to come up with a proper plan to secure funding to support them.
"We cannot expect our government to just export their issues to each and every one of us and expect that we have the money to pay for it because we won't," Spano said, adding that it is currently unknown what their healthcare and social service needs are.
Yonkers City Council president Lakisha Collins-Bellamy agreed with this and called on New York City's government to help ensure that resources are available for the migrants sent to Yonkers.
Spano said that he is not currently aware of any plans for asylum seekers to be sent anywhere else in Yonkers.
"We're going to be prepared for whatever comes our way," he said, continuing, "Those who brought them here need to do what they need to do."
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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