President Biden Must Address the City’s Migrant Issue
Howard Fensterman recently published an op-ed in LongIslandPress.com emphasizing that local officials, especially those in New York City are acquiring the brunt of the federal government’s failure to address the issue of migrants being transported to the city.
Mr. Fensterman highlighted that the current immigration problem is a federal responsibility, but the New York City metropolitan area has shouldered the human and financial costs due to the federal government’s inaction.
In his op-ed, he stated, “But as we have painfully learned in the last two years, New York City and the region have been forced to bear the human and financial costs of the federal government’s failure to act”
Mayor Adams is Taking Action on the Issue
New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces significant fiscal challenges and blames President Biden for not defraying the costs, leading to potential obstacles for the President’s re-election and the city’s fiscal stability.
The mayor’s attempts to address the migrant issue include lawsuits against companies transporting migrants, particularly those chartered by Texas governor Gregg Abbott, but the federal government has not provided financial assistance and these bus companies have now begun dropping migrants across New Jersey, where local authorities put them on trans-Hudson commuter trains to the city.
Although Mayor Adams has managed to lower the anticipated cost of caring for migrants, Governor Hochul’s additional billion-dollar allocation to her proposed budget has been a crucial lifeline. Despite these efforts, the federal government’s checkbook remains closed.
Political Implications
Fensterman pointed out that due to concerns over migrants and criminal justice reforms, the 2022 Congressional elections swung to the Republicans winning in New York.
That said, this migrant situation has political, fiscal, and human costs, impacting Democrats, New York taxpayers, and migrants.
Amidst this complex scenario, the call for real solutions echoes loudly. Tom Suozzi, seeking to return to Congress representing Long Island, proposes a sensible compromise. His approach involves closing the routes used by migrants to illegally enter the country while simultaneously creating a pathway to citizenship for those adhering to established rules and already residing in the United States. This approach aims to address the root causes of illegal migration while providing a fair and just solution for those seeking a better life.
Congressional leaders are being urged to collaborate with President Biden instead of exploiting the crisis for political gain. This call to action emphasizes the importance of a unified effort in tackling the migrant crisis, shifting the focus from political posturing to pragmatic solutions that balance security concerns with compassion.
Conclusion
A poignant reminder surfaces – beyond Indigenous people present before the arrival of Europeans, we are all immigrants or their descendants. Fensterman points out that there are parallels between racist rhetoric targeting recent immigrants and the dangerous rhetoric preceding the Nazi takeover in 1930s Germany, emphasizing the need for a humane and compassionate approach to the crisis.
With that said, the migrant crisis underscores the federal government’s responsibility, but its failure to act places a disproportionate burden on localities like New York City. Mayor Adams’ struggles, combined with the political ramifications and human costs, highlight the urgency for comprehensive and compassionate solutions, such as Suozzi’s proposed compromise, to address the complexities of immigration.