HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Gov. Phil Murphy’s plan to process illegal migrants at the former Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Glen Gardner has caused strident opposition from Assembly GOP Leader John DiMaio and Assemblyman Erik Peterson and its communities.
DiMaio and Peterson sent a letter to Gov. Murphy Friday, noting that the facility was previously deemed unfit to house people during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.
The letter also included nine questions that would provide more clarity to local officials and which will demonstrate the inadequacy of the Governor’s scheme.
“Our communities cannot manage any additional burden. Keep in mind that if New York City with its vast resources cannot safely and financially manage a few hundred migrants, it will overwhelm in our small rural communities,” said DiMaio (R-Warren) and Peterson (R-Hunterdon), who represent Lebanon Township and the surrounding rural communities. “We are asking that your administration’s plans be fully disclosed to us, the Hunterdon County Commissioners and more importantly to the local elected officials who will have to deal with the mess caused by President Biden’s open border and your declaration of New Jersey as a ‘sanctuary state.’”
Hunterdon County Commissioner Director Jeff Kuhl told Gov. Murphy that his board is opposed to the potential plan.
In opposing the proposal, Kuhl said, “This action has the potential to overwhelm public health and human service capabilities administered by Hunterdon County.”
DiMaio and Peterson’s questions were developed in consultation with local elected officials and law enforcement, and requested the same information as New York City when expecting a migrant influx.
“The state’s plan to relocate unvetted illegal migrants at abandoned healthcare facilities in Hunterdon County is completely unacceptable. This creates a serious concern to our community’s security and resources. President Biden’s complete absence of border security policies has unleashed this kind of crisis across our entire country and now another wakeup call has come to our backyard yet again. We cannot ignore the consequences of allowing millions of unvetted illegal migrants to enter our country. It’s crucial that every level of government prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities while also addressing the root causes of this issue,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07)
