TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Rumors about busloads of migrants being dropped off in Tunkhannock have been circulating on social media, but local officials say there's no truth behind the claims.
The social media storm began with a few posts claiming that large groups of migrants had been brought into Tunkhannock and were staying at a downtown hotel.
"If it was real, if it happened, the people have disappeared," said Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters.
Over the past 10 days, social media posts began to surface, saying that migrants were being "dumped" in Tunkhannock, claiming the migrants were taken to the Prince Hotel to eat and sleep.
Man killed by heavy equipment at paving company
The hotel tells 28/22 News and local officials it was a hoax.
"The manager of the hotel has said he has not checked any group in, in a long time and no one has eaten in his restaurant," Peters explained.
Peters says he and his team investigated the claims as soon as they surfaced and found no credible evidence that the photo was taken at the time stated in the social media post.
"We don't dispute that the photo is real, what is in dispute is the authenticity relative to the age of the photo, you know. Was it last week it was alleged to have been taken? It could be as old as a couple of years ago," Peters continued.
Peters also states that the bus in the photo could've been for a variety of people.
"Another factor we learned in, in our inquiry was that there are many people who arrive here on small buses, like the one depicted in that photo, there are numerous summer camps in beautiful rural Wyoming County, there's lots of church camps," Peters added.
He also reassures the public that his office is closely monitoring the situation and will take swift action if any criminal activity is uncovered.
"If there is criminality, I will be all over it with my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, whether that's someone who's here illegally, or whether that's someone here committing a crime, whether they are legal or illegal. You know, we have this, and we'll keep an eye on it, but so far, so good," Peters stated.
The Tunkhannock Police Department posted on Facebook page saying they won't entertain further questions on the matter, stressing that they do not racially profile and that there was no crime involved.
They've urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation.
