On Thursday the U.S. lifted Title 42, a policy begun under the Trump administration that restricted the flow of migrants into the U.S. on the ostensible basis that it would mitigate the spread of Covid. The expiration of that provision is widely expected to lead to a large uptick in migrant arrivals in the U.S.
Republicans and right-wing media, who favored extending Title 42 out of anti-immigrant sentiment, have been fear-mongered about the supposed dangers of the “surge.” But more surprisingly, some Democratic mayors of major cities such as New York City and Washington D.C. are signaling that they’re unhappy about the anticipated increase in migrant arrivals either, mostly because they say their cities don’t have the resources to take more in.
A humanitarian and political crisis for Democrats could be nigh.
A humanitarian and political crisis for Democrats could be nigh. The Biden administration needs to step up to the plate by providing logistical and financial support to cities so that migrants can go through their asylum-seeking process with dignity and without gratuitous suffering.
Asylum-seeking migrants who arrive in cities without a place to stay often turn to the same resources used by the local homeless population — programs which are already underfunded at a time of sky-high rents. There are many signs that northern cities are not currently well-equipped (or, in some cases, even inclined) to adopt a welcoming position in anticipation of an increase in migrant arrivals. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has suspended a “right to shelter” rule that has guaranteed families safe private housing for decades. Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has criticized immigrant advocates for allegedly indicating that her city has more capacity than it does to receive migrants. Chicago city officials claim that they’re at capacity for housing migrants, some of whom are sleeping on police station floors. Denver is limiting eligibility to sleep in…
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