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Five members of the New York National Guard and a contract worker are accused in a federal lawsuit of sexually exploiting asylum seekers staying at one of the state’s hotels hosting immigrants.
Seven migrants detail several cases of sexual exploitation at a Quality Inn in Cheektowaga, New York, by at least six National Guard soldiers working at the hotel to help with the influx of migrants who have been bussed into the state, according to a Army report. .com.
The lawsuit, which was filed on Feb. 8, accuses soldiers of taking immigrants, sometimes including teenagers, out of the hotel and asking them for sexual favors or attempting to form romantic relationships with them.
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“The guests were (and remain) particularly vulnerable, given their uncertain immigration status, lack of mobility, need for basic supplies, and other needs,” the lawsuit reads. “Even a trip to Walmart was considered a great gift.”
Sergeant. Deven Colon, a religious affairs specialist with the 2nd Squadron of the 101st Cavalry Regiment, is the only soldier named in the lawsuit. According to the report, Colón was the high-ranking guard on duty at the hotel and allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a migrant that included buying her gifts, making sexual comments and taking her to her home and other places. Colon also allegedly told the asylum seeker that he had her authority to help her, the lawsuit states, promising to get her and her children a home with her and support them.
Colon referred to the trips outside the hotel as “dates,” the lawsuit claims, noting that on one occasion the soldier made arrangements with six other guards to transport the woman and her children to a rental property about two hours from the hotel. . The soldier then allegedly “demanded” sexual favors from the woman, to which, according to the lawsuit, she “reluctantly” agreed.
According to the report, Colon texted the woman the next day and apologized while telling her to keep their encounter a secret.
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“I am so lost and I need to find myself again. I don’t recognize the man I have become these past few months,” the text said, according to the lawsuit.
Colon is also accused of taking at least one other woman and her children out of the hotel and giving the mother a massage while flirting with her teenage daughter, then texting the teen to tell her he thought she was attractive. the lawsuit states.
The 27th Brigade Combat Team, which includes the 2nd Squadron of the 101st Calvary Regiment, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has tasked the state’s National Guard with helping with the immigration crisis in the state, and about 175,000 asylum seekers are being transported into the state while their cases are processed. According to the report, 2,100 soldiers have been placed on active duty to help manage the influx.
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Many of the immigrants are staying in hotels like the one in Cheektowaga, which is located on the outskirts of Buffalo.
Another teenager at that hotel claims that a National Guard soldier identified only as “Thomas” in the lawsuit touched her earlier, causing her to flee. Other children were warned to stay away from Thomas, the lawsuit states.
In a statement to Military.com, a spokesperson for the New York National Guard said the allegations against its personnel are being taken “very seriously.”
“If allegations are substantiated after an investigation, they may result in adverse administrative and/or disciplinary action in accordance with New York State Military Law and regulation,” the spokesperson said. “Criminal activities are referred to authorities for appropriate action.”
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