Mayors of Sanctuary Cities Request Billions in Federal Aid to Support Migrants
Several mayors of sanctuary cities who had previously welcomed a surge of migrants are now urging the Biden administration to provide them with billions of dollars in federal aid to support these new residents. The mayors of Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York have urgently requested a meeting with President Biden to discuss obtaining federal support or resources to assist in managing the influx of migrants.
According to a letter obtained by The Associated Press, these Democratic leaders informed the Biden administration on Wednesday that while they appreciate the proposed $1.4 billion in aid, they require much more – an astonishing $5 billion to alleviate the burden on their cities. The letter highlights that although cities have historically successfully absorbed and integrated new migrants, the ongoing federal crisis is placing excessive strain on their municipal budgets and local taxpayers.
President Biden has already requested Congress to allocate $1.4 billion to help state and local governments provide shelter and services for migrants. However, the mayors argue that additional resources are necessary to properly care for the asylum seekers entering their communities. They emphasize that relying solely on municipal budgets is unsustainable and has resulted in the reduction of essential city services.
The letter, signed by Mayors Mike Johnston of Denver, Eric Adams of New York, Karen Bass of Los Angeles, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, and Sylvester Turner of Houston, states that the requested aid would be used for constructing living facilities, assisting with transportation of migrants, and expediting their processing into city systems, among other logistical necessities.
The dire situation revealed in the letter sheds light on the enormous financial strain placed on these cities. Denver alone is spending $2 million per week on sheltering migrants, while New York has already surpassed $1.7 billion and Chicago has spent $320 million.
The challenges faced by these sanctuary cities have become a topic of intense debate. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also responsible for the border, have been unable to alleviate the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border and the increasing number of migrants crossing over. Republicans have criticized Biden for being soft on border security and allowing an excessive number of people into the United States. Republican Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis have resorted to busing migrants to Democratic-led sanctuary cities with more favorable noncitizen laws.
In response to the mayors’ plea, Emilie Simons, deputy White House press secretary, stated, “We’re committed to supporting local jurisdictions that are hosting migrants that have recently arrived into the country. We’re going to continue to deliver support every way that we can.”
Ultimately, it will be up to the Republicans in the House of Representatives to determine whether the requested funding from President Biden will be approved.