Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C., commented, “I believe it’s become politically unsustainable for the Biden administration to continue allowing this unrestricted influx into what essentially functions as a network of welfare state cities like New York, Denver, and Chicago.”
As cities like Chicago and New York grapple with mounting pressure, they have started implementing restrictions on the transportation of certain migrants from the southern border. However, experts argue that more federal assistance and funding are imperative to ensure the survival of cities amidst the ongoing crisis.
Debu Gandhi, senior director of immigration policy at The Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan and progressive policy institute, stated, “The current level of federal funding allocated to state and local governments is woefully insufficient compared to the pressing need.” Gandhi highlighted that Congress only provided $800 million for a FEMA program nationwide in the last fiscal year to support cities in accommodating these newcomers.
Yet, cities contend that this allocation falls far short of what is necessary. For example, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, the $145 million allotted to New York City is less than 10% of what the city expended on migrant services in fiscal year 2023.
Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, emphasized the complexity of the situation, stating, “This encompasses a wide array of needs, including housing and services for individuals who are new to a place, a country, or a city.” Chishti added, “These are intricate challenges to address, and frankly, the city, state, and federal governments were ill-prepared for them
