UTICA  — A group of local religious leaders are calling for Oneida County officials to reverse its position on housing asylum seekers who may be bussed to the county from New York City. 

On Thursday, May 25, the interfaith clergy and religious leaders gathered to encourage Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. to repeal his emergency order that makes it illegal for hotels, shelters, campgrounds, motels or multiple dwellings to enter into a contract with a municipality to house or transport migrants into the county.

Rev. Karen Brammer of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica said the county’s response spreads fear and anxiety, when care and collaboration are most needed during this time. 

“My faith — and most faith traditions at the root — require generosity to those in need and shelter those seeking safety,” Brammer said. “Unitarian Universalism, which I serve as minister, clearly and continuously declares that we must ‘Side with Love.’” 

Brammer said that the Unitarian Universalist community is willing to provide as much aid as possible, including meals, transportation and support, and could even house up to five families in the building. 

Rev. Michael Ballman of the Cornerstone Community Church encouraged the county government to work with the interfaith communities that are willing to provide help rather than close itself off.   

“These are people seeking asylum from violence, … famine and disaster, and they need our help, just as many of our ancestors came seeking those same things,” Ballman said.   

Picente said he did consider the feasibility of housing migrants, but the county is currently focused on trying to house its homeless population and does not have the capacity to house additional migrants. 

“We were literally running out of places to put people in the cold winter nights, which is why I opened the county office building,” he said. “In doing so, that was just for shelter and for rest, it wasn’t for complete services that these people need. … It’s not that I arbitrarily cast an order and I didn’t look at it, it’s based on what I do every day for the people in need in this community.”    

Picente said he’d love to speak with the local clergy about this.    

Rabbi Peter Schaktman of Temple Emanu-El said his congregation is beginning to celebrate the festival of Shavuot, to celebrate the giving of the Torah. He said that in the Torah, there is no commandment repeated more than to welcome the stranger. 

“We today need to affirm that, as a faith community, as a civil community, that we will follow our values, that we will sleep better at night knowing that we’ve done everything we could to welcome migrants to our community and make what has been for them a stressful and difficult life less stressful,” Schaktman said. 

He said that the synagogue is not designed for long-term occupancy, and he’d have to consult with his congregation before deciding to house migrants there. However, he said his congregants are more than willing to help provide a safe environment for migrants, perhaps even by taking some into their homes. 

Rev. Jill Farnham-Us of the Interfaith Coalition of Greater Utica said that the community is stronger together, and cannot let fear control it. 

“[The asylum seekers] are already afraid. They’ve already lost everything. They’ve already left everything. And they’re coming here looking for a chance to grow and do better,” Farnham-Us said. 

Picente said he respects the religious leaders’ mission and understands their concerns, but he has the mission of taking care of the community’s public safety, health and wellbeing. 

“Anyone who knows me or my administration knows that I’m compassionate and we deal with the needs of people every day,” Picente said. “There are issues here that are separate and distinct in terms of dealing with refugees that are documented and properly vetted, opposed to this population.”