Erie County Cancels DHS Job Fair Due to ICE Participation Concerns

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has faced criticism after the Buffalo Convention Center canceled a two-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) career expo scheduled to begin on Tuesday. The cancellation was prompted by concerns over the participation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and warnings of potential protests. Republican Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo accused Poloncarz of overstepping his authority, stating, "The county executive has completely surpassed his power and authority. This was totally inappropriate for him to call on the management of the convention center to cancel this event." Lorigo expressed hope that the convention center would reverse its decision, noting that vendors had invested significant time and resources into the expo's setup. She added, "They’re concerned that they’re going to have to close down their business because they can’t afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but now they don’t know who’s going to pay the bill." In response to the cancellation, a DHS spokesperson defended ICE, stating, "Our agents are focused on protecting the American people — not entertaining performative outrage. Where is the outrage for Angel families who lost a loved one to illegal alien crime?" The spokesperson emphasized that 80% of Americans support the arrest and deportation of criminal illegal aliens. The expo was described by USAJOBS as the department’s premier large-scale hiring event, open to the public, veterans, military spouses, people with disabilities, and recent graduates, with recruitment planned across various sectors. According to New York Labor Department data released on Tuesday, there were 25,100 unemployed individuals in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga area in July, with a jobless rate of 4.4%, up from 4.3% a year earlier. In a joint statement, Poloncarz clarified that while Erie County owns the convention center, it does not manage its bookings or daily operations. He urged the management corporation to cancel the DHS contract, stating, "The Buffalo Convention Center is a publicly owned community asset, and I do not believe it should be used to support recruitment efforts that are inconsistent with the values we have repeatedly expressed as a welcoming community." Convention center President and CEO Patrick Kaler indicated that management initially requested DHS to hold the event without ICE, and upon learning that this was not feasible, decided to cancel for the community's best interests.