Clarkstown officials: 31 migrants, including children, found living in 'flophouse'
The discovery was made after a warrant was issued to search the home at 295 New Hempstead Rd. Photos from inside the 1,500-square-foot, single-family home showed beds in the garage, basement and attic.
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Clarkstown officials revealed during a news conference Monday that 31 migrants, including children, were found living in a home in New City last Friday.
The discovery was made after a warrant was issued to search the home at 295 New Hempstead Rd. Photos from inside the 1,500-square-foot, single-family home showed beds in the garage, basement and attic.
Elected officials used the news conference to demand federal and state officials address immigration issues in the county.
"As town supervisor, I'm very angry at what's happened here," said Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann.
He stated that some of the people In the house had recently crossed the southern border into Texas, were sent to Manhattan, then to Queens, then to Rockland.
Officials feel there may be more "flophouses" in the area.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day called for New York's Attorney General to investigate how the migrants are being moved.
"This is not necessarily a crisis from far away," said Day. "This is a crisis that's coming here and now."
Rep. Mike Lawler called the situation unacceptable.
The homeowner, Shoilma Koppel, of Monsey, is said to have two other properties in Rockland that will be looked into by the county. Clarkstown is pursuing legal action in state Supreme Court to have the home vacated.
