Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been vocal about his strategy of transporting migrants to Democratic-led sanctuary cities. This tactic has been employed for several months now, particularly as the number of arrivals to the United States continues to reach unprecedented levels. Cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Denver have been the primary destinations for these transported migrants.
New York’s public services have been overwhelmed by the influx of over 200,000 migrants in the past two years. In response, the city has taken steps to alleviate the strain.
Measures such as providing assistance with work authorization applications and implementing policies that restrict shelter stays have been put in place to reduce the reliance on city support. Other states, including Illinois, Florida, and Colorado, are also popular destinations for migrants, following in the footsteps of Texas.
Since April 2022, Texas has transported approximately 120,000 migrants from its border towns to various cities throughout the United States. Out of these migrants, over 45,000 have been sent to New York City.
This influx of migrants has significantly impacted cities like New York, where the right to shelter is guaranteed. In response to the strain on government resources, Mayor Eric Adams has made efforts to scale back some of the protections, citing the billions of dollars being spent.
Despite facing criticism from Republicans and migrant-rights groups, Adams decided to extend the lease for another year at the shelter located in Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field. Although concerns were raised about public safety and the suitability of the site for families, Adams remained committed to providing a refuge for those in need.
New York’s shelter population has experienced a consistent decrease in recent weeks, particularly after the Biden administration took strong measures to address illegal immigration in June.
The number of migrants within the system has recently fallen below 60,000, and Adams has made a commitment to shut down one of the largest shelters on Randall’s Island by February. This location has experienced occasional outbreaks of violence, including conflicts between residents and even a tragic shooting incident.
The implementation of new regulations, which restrict shelter stays to either 30 or 60 days, has left certain migrants without housing, prompting many to establish makeshift tents in the vicinity.
In September, there was a significant decrease of over 70% in the number of illegal border crossings compared to the 249,741 encounters recorded in December 2023. This marks the lowest monthly figure of the Biden administration.