Erie County cancels DHS hiring expo after ICE involvement sparks controversy

The Buffalo Convention Center scrapped a planned two-day Department of Homeland Security career expo after the venue’s management objected to the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and warned of possible demonstrations. Republican Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo charged County Executive Mark Poloncarz with overstepping his power, noting that vendors had already invested time and money and now face uncertain bills.

Poloncarz’s office clarified that while Erie County owns the center, it does not control daily bookings, and he urged the management corporation to cancel the DHS contract, citing community values. Convention center President and CEO Patrick Kaler said DHS initially agreed to hold the event without ICE, but when that proved impossible, cancellation was deemed in the community’s best interest. DHS responded with a statement defending ICE and questioning the focus of the outrage. The cancellation comes as New York Labor Department figures show 25,100 unemployed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga area, with the jobless rate rising to 4.4% from 4.3% a year earlier.