Suffolk County legislators quarrel over immigration COUNTY

“It’s unfortunate that some have chosen to exploit fear and weaponize vulnerable people legally seeking asylum through legal means for political theater,” she said. “While I agree that the nation’s current immigration process is broken — and it has been for a long time — and that we do need comprehensive immigration reform, I am certain that it will not be fixed through this hollow proposal.”

Two days later, Anthony Figliola, a Republican running to fill Hahn’s term-limited seat, held a rally near Stony Brook University to oppose housing asylum seekers at the state university campus. The candidate criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) for not yet signaling whether this proposal would be instituted.

“I think we have to have an open dialogue and transparency in the process, and I think what’s happening right now is that we don’t have that from the governor’s office,” he said. “This is a humanitarian crisis, and local communities are being charged with handling something that the federal government should be doing.”