The U.S. Migrant Crisis: Federal Intervention Needed Now (video)

The United States is facing an unprecedented migrant crisis that requires federal intervention. Local governments are being asked to subsidize this crisis, but they are neither designed nor built to handle such a massive influx of migrants. This situation has escalated into both a humanitarian and fiscal crisis for cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver.

The scale and diversity of the nationalities arriving at the border are unprecedented. This crisis is impacting not only border states but also cities and states across the country. The Biden administration’s current approach to managing the migrant flow into welfare state cities like New York and Denver is becoming politically unsustainable. Cities must acknowledge this crisis and shift into crisis mode to address it effectively.

In 2018, New York City spent approximately $258 million on immigration services, adjusted for inflation. By fiscal year 2023, this expenditure had soared to $1.47 billion. Chicago has spent over $194 million on its new arrivals mission since October 2022. Denver’s spending on migrant support services in 2023 is estimated between $36.3 million and $39.1 million. The primary expenses for new arrivals are housing, education, and healthcare, all of which are high-cost items. The notion of providing generous welfare benefits to migrants from around the world is proving mathematically impossible as states struggle with the increasing financial burden.

The <a href="sheer volume of new migrants is a significant factor behind these cities' struggles. In fiscal year 2022, over 817,000 new cases were filed in U.S. immigration courts. This number nearly doubled to 1.5 million in the following fiscal year. The lack of built-in social networks for many migrants, particularly Venezuelans, exacerbates their dependency on state and city resources, which are already stretched thin.

Although immigration has traditionally been under federal oversight, there is insufficient federal funding for cities to manage this crisis. Congress provided only $800 million for a FEMA program to aid cities nationwide last fiscal year, which is a fraction of the actual need. For example, the $145 million allocated to New York City covers less than 10% of what the city spent on migrant services in fiscal year 2023. Managing this crisis requires a broad spectrum of services, from providing basic necessities to finding jobs and <a href="shelter for migrants.

Texas has been providing charter buses to send migrants dropped off by the Biden administration to cities like Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles. This coordinated busing of asylum seekers is unprecedented. Texas reported transporting over 100,000 migrants to various cities since the practice began. In 2023, illegal immigration cost Texas taxpayers an estimated $13.4 billion, including over $148 million spent on busing migrants to sanctuary cities.

The motivation behind this busing is twofold: Texas lacks the resources to manage the influx of migrants, and the state aims to pressure northern cities and the federal government to address the crisis. Critics argue that the lack of coordination from Texas has made it difficult for sanctuary cities to handle the sudden surge of migrants.

Cities like Chicago and New York are responding by imposing more restrictions on migrant drop-offs and seeking federal assistance. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a lawsuit against charter companies hired by Texas to transport migrants. The need for federal reimbursement is urgent to prevent long-term suffering for cities. Even sanctuary cities that initially welcomed migrants are now pleading for more federal funding.

The Biden administration faces criticism for its handling of the crisis. The Department of Homeland Security claims to be coordinating with cities and states to support local communities while enforcing immigration laws. However, the financial strain on cities and states continues to grow, leading to significant debt and a potential snowball effect of bailouts from city to state to federal levels.

Experts suggest that limiting the number of asylum seekers at the border and fixing the long-broken immigration system are vital steps toward solving the crisis. A more orderly immigration system with accessible pathways for migrants is essential for their integration and contribution to the economy. The politicization of immigration only complicates efforts to address the issue effectively.

Ultimately, the number of migrants entering the country and the conditions under which they arrive should be determined by elected officials. The ongoing debate over immigration levels should focus on the interests of the United States, rather than devolving into partisan mudslinging. Only by coming together to find a compromise can the country hope to manage its borders and uphold the rule of law while addressing the humanitarian needs of migrants.