Stefanik Along with St. Lawrence County and Massena Officials to Oppose Welcoming Migrants Looking for a Better Life

By Isaac White

The inclusion of the Massena International Airport on a list of 11 U.S. federal government-owned sites potentially suitable for housing asylum seekers arriving in New York City is causing a stir in the area neighboring Akwesasne. Elected officials did not take much time to express their opinions on this proposal.

“How did they select these locations, because looking at the list a lot of them are around New York City — 100, 200 miles, I don’t know,” Massena town supervisor Sue Bellor expressed her confusion to WWNY TV News in Watertown. “And yet they picked out Massena International Airport. I don’t know where they are getting this from. It’s very confusing to all of us.”

The Massena airport would provide a number of problems, according to David Forsythe, the chairman of the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators, who spoke to the local tv outlet.

“Language barrier’s gonna be huge,” Forsythe said. “We just don’t have the resources. Our medical facilities, you hear about nursing shortages. If they get sick, medical facilities aren’t prepared. It’s just a list that keeps going on and on and on. Where that came from, originated, or whose idea, I have no idea. But I know the Massena community’s not willing to accept it. I know St. Lawrence County’s not going to accept it.”

Stefanik, a House Republican representing New York’s 21st District is a staunch ally of now-indicted former President Donald Trump and a ruthless opponent of compassion for migrants.

She provided a statement steeped in anti-immigration rhetoric regarding the possibility of migrants being brought to Massena.

“I proudly stand with the bipartisan coalition of local elected officials and the hardworking residents of St. Lawrence County who oppose using Massena International Airport as a site to house illegal immigrants. Upstate New York and the North Country is not a “Sanctuary City.” We should not have to bear the cost of Joe Biden, Kathy Hochul, and Eric Adams’ Far Left open border policies and the havoc they are causing. I will continue to work with this bipartisan coalition of local officials to ensure our communities remain safe and that Massena International Airport is not used as a site to house illegal immigrants. Once again, I call on President Biden to end his radical open border policies and secure our Northern and Southern Borders.”

Despite Governor Hochuls recent statement that refugees should be housed in the five boroughs of New York City, Stefanik went forward and made the anti-migrant statement.