Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has announced that Erie County will temporarily stop accepting asylum seekers in response to recent sexual assault cases. The decision comes after two incidents of alleged sexual abuse by migrants within weeks. The latest arrest involved 22-year-old Kindu Jeancy, who was charged with sexual abuse after a complaint was filed by a 27-year-old hotel employee. This incident follows the arrest of 26-year-old Jesus Guman-Bernudez for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in front of a three-year-old child at another hotel.

Poloncarz expressed his concern for the safety of the community, stating that "two serious, violent crimes in two weeks are two too many." He also emphasized that the trust and good faith of the community have been betrayed. As a precautionary measure, transportation of asylum seekers to Erie County will be paused until security issues can be fully resolved.

To address the security concerns, Poloncarz revealed that National Guard members will be deployed to each hotel to provide a stabilizing presence. However, it may take a day or two for them to arrive. Additionally, there are calls for the removal of asylum seekers from the hotels.

Erie County's decision to stop accepting asylum seekers raises questions about the safety measures in place and the vetting process for those being relocated. As the community seeks answers and solutions, the priority remains the protection of both the residents and the asylum seekers.