The influx of asylum seekers and other migrants entering the United States is reaching record levels. Two years ago, when many migrants started coming to cities run by Democrats, officials were happy to help them. But now, the influx is putting financial strain on states and cities across the nation.
These cities have already spent billions to address immediate needs. However, due to a lack of resources, these democratic cities are not rendering as much help to new arrivals. Recently, big cities like New York and Chicago have made big changes to their shelter policies.
In Chicago, they started kicking out migrants who stayed longer than 60 days because they didn’t have enough resources to help everyone. In New York, migrants previously enjoyed the city’s right to shelter. The city had ensured access to emergency housing for as long as necessary.
However, last Friday marked a significant change in these regulations for migrants without children. This adjustment came after months of the city struggling with its legal responsibilities towards new arrivals, particularly as their numbers exceeded 180,000 and shelter expenses skyrocketed.
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But it’s not just in New York and Chicago; similar situations are happening in other places, too. In Denver, officials have started closing some shelters for migrants and have brought back time limits for how long people can stay.
In Massachusetts, where there’s also been an increase in migrants, the government is considering putting a limit on how long individuals can stay in shelters. House Speaker Ron Mariano has expressed concern that Massachusetts cannot sustain its current shelter system.
By law, this system guarantees services to eligible families and pregnant women. Despite Governor Maura Healey’s fall decision to cap the number of families served at around 7,500, Mariano suggests that reforms are still necessary for the system to remain viable.
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“It isn’t fair for these people to stay there for as long as they want. New people coming in don’t have the opportunity to have access to some of the advantages that these people have,” Mariano told reporters.
“We thought in the interest of fairness, and to keep this program in existence if we don’t do something to change this and make it fairer, it’s going to sink under its own weight.”
In cities known for welcoming immigrants, the recent increase in newcomers has led to a tough look at their core values. The desire to embrace these newcomers is deep-rooted but comes with a financial burden, noted Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute. This is especially true for cities where housing costs are high.
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Cities have cautioned that the financial pressure from the influx of migrants may force them to reduce services. New York, for example, has already made budget cuts, including trimming spending on migrants. Yet the city is still expected to allocate over $4 billion to address the crisis this fiscal year, according to a city official’s testimony in February.
In Denver, where over 40,000 migrants have utilized the shelter system since late 2022, the city recently implemented budget cuts due to increased spending on assistance for newcomers.
These cuts involved scaling back hours at community centers and discontinuing certain recreational programs, sparking criticism from local officials. As the situation continues to evolve, local governments need to find solutions that are both caring and financially smart.
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