The epoch times

Sanctuary cities once embraced illegal immigrants, but now claim they’ve reached their limit.

Prior to being elected mayor‌ of New York City in 2021, Eric Adams’ campaign posted on Twitter, ⁢now known as ‍X, “We should protect our ⁢immigrants. Period. Yes, New York City will ⁣remain a sanctuary city ​under an Adams administration.”

Less than two years later, now-mayor Adams is suggesting the influx of illegal immigrants will “destroy New York City.”

“Let me tell you something, New Yorkers. Never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to. I don’t see an ending to this. … This issue will ​destroy New York ‍City,” Mr. Adams said on Sep. 6, ⁢during a town ‍hall ‌meeting on the Upper West Side. ​”We’re ⁣getting 10,000 migrants a month.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, began busing ‍illegal‍ immigrants to several large U.S. cities, known ‍as “sanctuary ⁤cities,” beginning in‌ April 2022 to alleviate‍ border ‍cities in his ​state. And although only a fraction of the illegal​ immigrants arriving in New York City are arriving on Mr. Abbott’s buses, Mr. Adams​ has called the ​program “morally bankrupt.”

A jurisdiction is dubbed a sanctuary because it has enacted policies that shield illegal immigrants, including criminals, from federal immigration authorities and deportation.

The cities Mr. Abbott chose as his busing program recipients are among the 10 “largest sanctuary cities in ⁤the United States,” according to the Federation for American⁤ Immigration Reform (FAIR).

As of Sept. 8, ⁣Mr. Abbott’s office reported it ‌had bused more ⁤than 11,300 illegal ⁢immigrants to Washington since April 2022; ‍more than 13,500 to New York ‍City and more than 7,000 to Chicago since August 2022; and more than 2,600 to Philadelphia since November ⁣2022.

This ⁣year, Texas started busing illegal immigrants to Denver and Los Angeles. Denver ‍has‌ received around 1,100,⁤ and Los Angeles around 480.

Border Patrol agents have⁣ apprehended 1,973,092 illegal immigrants along the⁣ southwest border in​ the past 11 months, according to Customs and⁣ Border Protection (CBP) data.

More than 1 million of‌ those crossed into Texas.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (C) is flanked by law enforcement ‌personnel as he issues an executive order to designate Mexican⁣ cartels as terrorist organizations, in Midland, Texas, on⁢ Sept. 21, 2022. (Texas Governor’s Office)

In response to​ the border surge in 2021, Mr. Abbott‌ launched​ his Operation Lone Star border ⁣security initiative ⁣in March 2021. The governor deployed troops from the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of ⁣Public Safety to the southern border, increased funding for border‌ security, designated Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, ‍and started his busing ⁢program the following year.

“The crisis at ⁤our southern border continues to‍ escalate because of Biden administration⁣ policies that refuse to secure the border and invite​ illegal⁤ immigration,” ‍Mr. Abbott said in‌ a press release at the time.

“Texas supports legal immigration‌ but will not ‍be an​ accomplice to the‍ open border policies that cause,‌ rather ⁢than prevent, a humanitarian crisis in our state and endanger the lives of⁢ Texans.”

Cities Cry Foul

On Aug.‌ 9, Mr. Adams said⁣ the influx of illegal immigrants to New York City has led to ⁢an “unprecedented state of emergency.” The city cited the lack ‌of work authorization as one of the problems⁢ with “asylum seekers.”

“They do not have the authorization to work, so we have to provide⁤ shelter. We have supplied​ food and access to healthcare. We have ‍enrolled children ⁣in schools. We have⁣ opened almost 200 ⁢emergency sites,⁤ including more than a dozen large-scale humanitarian relief centers. And we have assisted migrants with asylum applications,” Mr. ⁤Adams said

“But we are past our breaking point. … ⁣For each family seeking asylum through the city’s care, we spend an average​ of $383 per night to provide shelter, food, medical care, and social services. With more than 57,300 individuals currently in our care,⁣ on an average night, it amounts to ​$9.8 million a day, almost $300 million a month, and nearly ‌$3.6 billion a year,”​ he said.

On May ⁤9, the state’s Democratic ​Gov. Kathy Hochul⁢ declared a state of emergency‍ over the influx.

Illegal​ immigrants use a rope ⁢ladder to climb over‍ the U.S. border wall separating the United States from Mexico in El Centro, Calif., on ⁣Oct.⁤ 6, 2022. (Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images)

In ​reaction ‌to Mr. Abbott sending 42 illegal immigrants to Los Angeles on June 14, the Los Angeles City Council on Aug.‌ 30 unanimously approved two motions to file against Mr. Abbott and Texas.

The first motion states, “Investigate and report on whether human trafficking, kidnapping, or any other ⁢crime was committed on or before June 14, 2023, when Governor ⁣Greg Abbott of Texas sent 42 migrants from McAllen, Texas, to Los⁤ Angeles, California.”

The⁣ second states, “Investigate and begin⁢ proceedings on​ any potential civil ⁣legal action that could be taken against the State of Texas, Governor Greg Abbott, or any other entity relating to​ planning and‍ actions of June 14, 2023.”

Before ⁤the vote, LA ⁤City Council ‌member⁤ Hugo Soto-Martínez stated, “These motions are about investigating whether Gov. Greg Abbott committed kidnapping, human trafficking or any other crimes when he sent vulnerable families on a 23-hour bus ride with little or ‍no ‍food or water.

“The competition between these Republicans‌ about who⁣ can be the ⁣most racist, I‍ think, is just an utter failure and shows, clearly, that they do not have ⁣any intention of governing effectively.”

When reached for comment about the motions, the southern border, and⁣ illegal immigrants, Josue Marcus, an employee with the LA city clerk’s office told The Epoch Times via email ‍that the city clerk’s office “cannot comment on these matters.”

The LA Mayor’s office didn’t respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.

Chicago Mayor ⁣Lori Lightfoot, speaks during a June 2021 press conference. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

As ⁤with New ‍York and LA, the City⁣ of Chicago calls itself a “welcoming‌ city” to ⁤”asylum seekers.”

“We have a responsibility to provide access to shelter, food, and medical care to everyone,⁤ regardless of immigration status,” the city website states.

“Many of our new arrivals have​ walked hundreds of miles, navigating great danger‍ through multiple countries in pursuit of safety and opportunity ⁢in the United States. We are committed to assisting each family‍ and individual, providing human services with​ respect and dignity.”

However, after receiving about 8,000 illegal immigrants via Mr. Abbott’s ​bus program, then-Democrat mayor Lori Lightfoot pushed‍ back.

“We simply have no more shelters, spaces, or resources to​ accommodate an increase of ⁢individuals ‍at this level,” Ms. Lightfoot wrote in a letter to Mr. Abbott.

“Though I am sympathetic to the significant challenges that⁣ border cities face, this situation ⁣is completely untenable.​ The ​national ‌immigration problem‍ will not be solved by passing on the responsibility to other cities.”

Mr. Abbott responded to Ms. Lightfoot ​on May ​1, “As the‌ mayor of a self-declared sanctuary city,⁢ it is ironic to⁤ hear you complain about Chicago’s struggle to deal with a⁣ few thousand illegal immigrants, which is a fraction of the record-high numbers we deal with‌ in Texas on a regular basis,” Mr. Abbott wrote.

“You are right that ‘this situation is completely untenable,’ but this is not a Texas problem—this is a problem for the entire United ⁢States of America. … Until Biden secures the border to stop the inflow of ⁣mass migration,⁢ Texas will continue this⁤ necessary program.”

Ms. Lightfoot issued a Declaration of Emergency on May 9.

Neither Chicago’s‍ City⁣ Council ⁢nor the mayor’s office‍ responded to The ​Epoch Times’ ‍request for ⁢comment.

Dozens of recently arrived illegal immigrants camp outside of New York’s Roosevelt Hotel, ⁤which has been made into a‍ reception center, ⁢as they try to secure temporary housing ⁢in New York City on Aug. 1, 2023. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

On Aug. 28, Chicago’s new mayor, Brandon Johnson, and Illinois’ Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker wrote a letter ‌ to Department of‌ Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stating ‌that the City of Chicago ‍had spent over $250 million⁢ supporting asylum seekers, and requested DHS to​ streamline work authorization for “non-citizens.”

As⁢ with other sanctuary cities, the arrival ‍of buses from Texas to Washington,⁢ D.C., met with ⁤resistance.

A representative from Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser’s⁤ office wrote to the Secretary of Defense on July 19, 2022, ‌requesting the assistance of the National‍ Guard to “help prevent a prolonged humanitarian crisis” in the nation’s capital.

“The pace of arriving buses and the volume of ‌arrivals ‍have reached tipping points. Our⁢ collective response and service efforts have now become overwhelmed: the regional welcome center ⁣we helped establish in Montgomery County, Maryland, is⁤ at ‌capacity; our homeless services system ‍is already⁢ under great strain,” the mayor’s office ⁤wrote, according to⁢ an NBC reporter, who posted the letter on X.

“With pledges from Texas and Arizona to⁤ continue these abhorrent operations indefinitely, the⁣ situation is ⁤dire, ‌and ⁤we consider this a humanitarian crisis—one that could overwhelm our social support network without immediate and sustained federal intervention.”

The Department of Defense declined to provide ⁣support. It also declined when Ms. Bowser again requested help ⁤on July 22 and Aug. 11, 2022.

Migrants prepare to be transported by⁢ bus to processing faciities in Yuma, Arizona, on May 18, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

On Sep. 8, 2022, Ms. Bowser declared a “public emergency,” stating in a press release, “The District’s homeless services system is not set up to support the unique needs of migrants, and our community-based homeless service providers are not staffed to support the needs of migrants.”

She​ said the emergency declaration allowed her to⁤ establish an “Office of Migrant Services,” which, among other responsibilities, would “meet all buses and facilitate onward travel.”

On Sep. 15, 2022, Ms. Bowser repeated her desire to “facilitate onward travel,”⁢ saying‌ to Fox 5 D.C.,⁣ “We’re going to do all that we can in D.C. to make sure that the ‍people have a humane welcome and transfer to their final destination.”

When asked‌ if the influx of⁤ illegal​ immigrants had given her a “better understanding⁢ of what [border states] are dealing with,” Ms. Bowser told ‌Fox 5 D.C., that she was ‍elected to​ “make⁤ sure that ⁤D.C. residents have what ‍they need,⁤ and that our systems can support ⁣our needs.”

Ms. Bowser’s office didn’t‍ respond‍ to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, speaks during a June 2021 ⁢press conference. (Cara Ding/The Epoch⁤ Times)

Denver’s mayor, Michael Hancock, issued an emergency declaration on Dec. ⁣15, 2022, in response to a⁣ surge of illegal immigrants. However, the influx wasn’t ⁤a result of Mr. Abbott’s buses, and ​Mr. Hancock criticized the‌ Biden​ administration for forcing‍ cities to spend resources​ they ‍didn’t have to solve a federal problem.

“Let me be ⁣frank: This ⁢influx of migrants, the unanticipated ⁣nature of their arrival, and ‍our current space and staffing challenges have ‌put an immense strain on city ⁤recourses⁤ to the level where they’re on the verge⁣ of reaching a breaking point at this time,” Mr. Hancock said at a news conference.

“It ⁢is at a crisis point right now, and cities‍ all over⁤ this country are ⁣being forced to deal with something we’re not equipped to deal with,” he said.

Neither​ Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis ‍nor Mr. Hancock responded to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.

A ‘Welcoming City’

Of the six sanctuary cities receiving ⁤busloads of illegal immigrants from Mr. Abbott, only Philadelphia hasn’t ⁢declared‍ a state‍ of emergency or​ public emergency.

The city states on its website, “As a proud, welcoming city, Philadelphia will continue to greet ‌our newly arrived neighbors with dignity and respect. City agencies, Office of Emergency​ Management mass‍ care partners, immigrant leaders, and immigrant-serving nonprofits are working together to welcome,⁣ assist, and provide support to these individuals and ⁣families.”

President⁤ Joe Biden delivers remarks at Prince George’s Community College on Sept. 14, 2023 in Largo, Maryland. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A ⁤city spokesperson ‍told The Epoch‌ Times ⁣that “Philadelphia has welcomed over 2,500 people seeking asylum and over ​60 buses from Texas” since November 2022.

“The City rents a facility as a temporary respite center⁣ to welcome ⁢people seeking asylum. Immediately upon arrival, individuals and families are greeted by the City’s Office⁤ of Immigrant Affairs, the ⁤Office of Emergency Management, the⁤ Philadelphia Department of Public⁤ Health, an array of nonprofit partners, as ⁤well as local hospitals providing several essential services,” the‍ spokesperson said.

In November 2022,⁣ when the first bus ‍arrived from Texas, Philadelphia’s Democrat mayor, Jim Kenney, criticized Mr. Abbott’s busing policy, calling it “cruel and racist,” but said the‍ city was happy to welcome ⁤(at⁣ the time) approximately 30​ migrants, according to Fox 29. All but two left Philadelphia for other undisclosed locations

In response to the outrage from cities‍ such ‍as New York and Chicago, the Los Angeles Times recently reported that the Biden administration is considering forcing illegal immigrants to remain in Texas while they await their asylum hearing and wear GPS ⁢monitoring⁤ devices such as ankle bracelets.

The⁢ Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Abbott’s office and Homeland Security but didn’t receive a response by the time of publication.



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