A Republican from the Buffalo area has accused Democratic Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz of exceeding his authority after the Buffalo Convention Center decided to cancel a two-day career expo organized by the Department of Homeland Security. This decision was reportedly made due to objections regarding the involvement of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alongside concerns of potential protests.
Lindsay Lorigo, a Republican Erie County Legislator, expressed her views in an interview, stating that the county executive overstepped his bounds. “It was entirely inappropriate for him to pressure the convention center management to cancel the event,” she remarked.
Lorigo mentioned that she was aware discussions were still ongoing and hoped that the decision could be reversed. Vendors, in particular, had already dedicated significant time and resources to prepare for the expo. She added, “I’ve spoken with vendors who are already set up. They’re worried about shutting down their businesses since they can’t absorb the costs involved, and now it’s unclear who will foot the bill.”
She went on to suggest that Poloncarz was exaggerating the safety concerns surrounding the event.
The Department of Homeland Security took a strong stance on the issue, defending ICE and dismissing the objections as politically motivated. A spokesperson for DHS stated, “Our agents are dedicated to protecting Americans, not engaging in performative outrage. Where is the outcry for families that have lost loved ones due to crimes committed by illegal aliens?”
According to a May survey by Harvard CAPS/Harris, a significant 80% of respondents supported the deportation of immigrants involved in criminal activity.
The expo, labeled as DHS’s main large-scale recruitment event, was publicly accessible to veterans, military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and recent graduates. It aimed to recruit across several fields, including cybersecurity, law enforcement, and immigration services.
Recently released data from the New York Labor Department pointed to 25,100 unemployed individuals in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga region as of July, noting a jobless rate of 4.4%, an increase from 4.3% the previous year.
In a joint statement issued by Poloncarz’s office, it was clarified that while Erie County owns the convention center, it does not handle the daily operations or booking processes. Poloncarz learned of the expo on Wednesday and pressured the management to cancel the DHS contract.
He said, “The Buffalo Convention Center is a publicly owned community asset, and using it for recruitment that contradicts our values as a welcoming community is not acceptable.”
Patrick Kaler, President and CEO of the convention center, noted that the management initially requested DHS to hold the event without ICE. “When it became evident that wasn’t an option, we decided to cancel, believing it was in the best interests of our community at this time,” Kaler explained.
