In a disturbing trend that is gaining momentum across the United States, political leaders are increasingly transferring undocumented migrants to other states and even exporting them abroad. Left unchecked, this approach to addressing problems could easily extend beyond the area of migrants crossing the southern border to encompass broader social problems such as attempting to export homeless people, drug abusers, and even criminals elsewhere. The solution lies in a more coordinated federal effort to address the key problem of undocumented migrants arriving in the U.S. before the practice of exporting problems becomes the accepted norm in American society.
Denver As An Example
Take the city of Denver and what it is doing as a good starting point on this issue. Last year, over 12,000 migrants arrived in Denver and then chose to continue their journey to other cities in the U.S. According to a NBC News report, they opted for this route because of Denver’s relative proximity to the border, its reputation for being welcoming, and its cheaper transportation fares. In a bid to free up its shelter beds for new arrivals, Denver spent at least $4.3 million in city funds to send migrants to other U.S. cities without prior agreements. Unfortunately, this approach has been shifting the burden onto Democratic-led cities like Chicago and New York, straining their resources as the northern cities struggle to house the new asylum-seekers.
Abbott, DeSantis Ship Off Migrants
The phenomenon of political leaders transferring migrants to other states began last year when Republican governors in Texas and Florida chartered buses and planes to transport migrants to Democratic-led cities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office, for example, disclosed not long ago that the state bused over 50,000 migrants to cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles over the last year to highlight concerns with the Biden administration’s border policies. With their resources now dwindling, some of these recipient cities in turn are aiding migrants to reach other final destinations. For example, cities like Chicago, through organizations like the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese, have used state funds to purchase tickets for over 2,500 migrants who have family, friends, or sponsors elsewhere. These exporting cities assert that they only buy tickets for migrants who wish to travel voluntarily and do not coerce anyone to leave.
Mounting Pressure Of Immigrants From All Over The World
Regardless of how appropriate the approach taken towards these newcomers is, however, these efforts underline the mounting pressure on cities as increasing numbers of migrants from around the world seek refuge through the U.S. southern border, often fleeing economic instability or simply unsafe conditions back home. Illegal border crossings exceeded 2 million during the last fiscal year, the second-highest number on record.
The danger being discussed here lies in the unsustainable nature of shuttling migrants from one place to another. Apart from considerations like medical forum shopping by migrants seeking the best treatments wherever they can get them for example, it raises the question of how long it will be before cities like New York consider rounding up homeless individuals and offering them free trips to Miami, or Chicago doing the same with drug abusers to Los Angeles. This trend is concerning and unsustainable, and it raises important ethical and logistical questions.
Rishi Sunak Solution
Furthermore, there have been even more extreme and opportunistic solutions proposed for disposing of these “unwanted problems.” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attempted to export 4,000 asylum seekers to Rwanda until the Supreme Court halted the plan. The court questioned the viability of Rwanda as a country to offer safe and adequate protections to those who may be so exported. Meanwhile here in the United States, New York City now offers undocumented migrants one-way plane tickets to anywhere in the world. Along these same lines, concerns emerged earlier this year when migrants funded by New York City took buses toward the northern border and ended up in Canada. Even more radical approaches include sending migrants to makeshift tent camps in the California desert or abolishing the asylum system altogether. Such proposals and programs demonstrate a desire to shift responsibility for dealing with migrant populations elsewhere rather than addressing the issue fairly and humanely where it has arisen in America. They are at odds with our democratic ideals and international legal commitments made by America and other democratic nation states.
A Humane Alternative Needed
To find a more reasonable and humane alternative, the United States should consider developing a federally coordinated response to the migrant problem. This approach would involve political leaders from immigrant-saturated states, leaders from immigrant-receiving states, and officials responsible for federal immigration policy coming together to formulate a national strategy to address the issue. This coordinated effort appears to be the most rational and viable solution to a complex problem that is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
It is imperative that the United States, as a nation, lives up to its democratic ideals and international obligations, and takes a more coordinated and humane approach to address the challenges posed by undocumented migrants. Failure to do so risks perpetuating a cycle of burden-shifting that ultimately will harm both the affected individuals and undermine the values the nation holds dear.
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