44 asylum seekers are being evicted from their homes in Buffalo state

BUFFALO, NY (WIVB) — 44 asylum seekers temporarily housed at Buffalo State University will be evicted from campus, according to a Jericho Road statement Monday.

It’s unclear how long the migrants have been housed in Buffalo State, but in May Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz said the school and UB are being considered as a possible safe haven for migrants coming to western New York.

dr Jericho Road CEO Myron Glick said the Buffalo State’s decision “was influenced by prejudice in the Buffalo community toward asylum seekers.” The asylum seekers are part of the “Vive” shelter on Jericho Road.

This comes after two asylum seekers were arrested in western New York in recent weeks. On August 8, 26-year-old Venezuelan Jesus Guzman-Bermudez was accused of raping a hotel worker in Cheektowaga. Four days later, on August 12, 22-year-old Kindu Jeancy, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was accused of sexually abusing a hotel worker, also in Cheektowaga.

These arrests led to Poloncarz announcing that an agreement had been reached with New York Mayor Eric Adams that no more asylum seekers would come to the area.

dr Glick says Jericho Road has “decided” to provide temporary housing for the 44 people who will leave Buffalo State.

These asylum seekers have fled the atrocities in their homeland and are looking for a safe place to call home here in our community. If we do nothing while others are suffering, we take responsibility for what we experience,” he said. “We know this community is a welcoming place, we know it as the ‘City of Good Neighbors.’ It’s about time this Buffalo got stronger.”

News 4 has reached out to Buffalo State for comment and has not yet received a response.