U.S. migrant crisis exacerbates as root causes are brushed aside

Houston, May 24 (RHC)-- Multiple cities across the United States have declared states of emergency as thousands of asylum seekers are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border due to the end of the infamous 'Title 42' law.  Cities as big and wealthy as Chicago and New York are experiencing a shortage of resources like food and shelter as refugees are forcibly transported from border states to “sanctuary cities.”

The migrants forced into the sanctuary cities face perilous conditions. In Chicago, families are forced to live in police districts, relying on local community donations for food and hygiene products while heavily monitored by officers.

Cities are struggling to provide adequate resources, if any at all, despite thousands of hotels, housing, and food being readily available.   Travel for these migrants is limited and heavily monitored. The Joe Biden administration’s “Family Expedited Removal Management” enforces some asylum seekers to wear an ankle monitor until a court hearing, which ultimately decides if they are permitted to stay or be deported again. 

The outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement earlier this month, describing the issue that has gripped the city as a humanitarian crisis.  “The City of Chicago is in the midst of a national humanitarian crisis, and through a unified effort in accordance with its values as a welcoming city, Chicago is doing everything it can to respond to the urgency of this matter,” the mayor said.

Towards the end of April, Lightfoot wrote a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, telling him that Chicago had no more shelters or resources to accommodate the influx of migrants.  "We don't have any more space.  I cannot emphasize that enough," she said at a news conference.

According to reports, more than 8,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago since last August, when Abbott started sending asylum-seekers to so-called “sanctuary cities” in protest against immigration policies.  Local officials in Chicago have proposed transforming schools and other government buildings into temporary shelters. The process for approval of these ideas is slow and has to go through different levels of local bureaucracy. Meanwhile, hundreds to thousands arrive by busload every week. 

Republican-controlled states have taken a different approach.  Texas Governor Abbott is refusing to hold any more migrants within the state, sending busloads of families into Democrat-controlled states and cities, citing Biden’s border policies should be shouldered by his supporters.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken it a step further, sending armed national guard troops and drones to “secure the border.”  This comes in addition to the 4000+ federal troops already deployed.

“The impacts of Biden’s Border Crisis are felt by communities across the nation, and the federal government’s abdication of duty undermines the sovereignty of our country and the rule of law,” DeSantis said earlier this week.