No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities
Justifiably, the federal government has stepped in to support New Yorkers, Texans, Californians, and residents of every state, district, and territory during their times of hardship. Typically, federal assistance arrives in the aftermath of unpredictable natural disasters or, as witnessed by us New Yorkers nearly 25 years ago, in response to terrorist acts. However, concerning New York's migrant crisis, it's essential for the federal government to refrain from immediate intervention.
New York’s migrant crisis stems from foreseeable consequences of the sanctuary city policies adopted by Albany and New York City officials. Offering federal bailout funds to New York City, without requiring them to change the policies fueling the migrant crisis would only perpetuate the issue further.
New York City has long been a beacon of hope and opportunity for individuals seeking a better life. It's a place that has welcomed countless legal immigrants and refugees, offering them a chance to build their dreams and contribute to our vibrant communities. However, the recent surge in migrants arriving in New York City has left leaders pointing fingers and placing blame.
Despite being over 2,000 miles away from the U.S.-Mexico border, New York State finds itself akin to a border state. But the migrants aren’t coming to NYC for its renowned pizza, Broadway spectacles, or the red-hot Yankees. Instead, it's a consequence of the failures of leaders like President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, along with their allies such as Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams, whose open border and sanctuary city policies have acted as a magnet for migrants to cross the southwest border and come to the Big Apple.
The radical left’s open borders agenda has been exacerbated by pro-illegal immigration laws, including dangerous anti-police sanctuary city and state laws in jurisdictions from Los Angeles to New York City. These cities and states have specified they will not enforce immigration laws on the books and refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement or immigration officials. These policies and the divisive rhetoric liberal politicians have used for decades have actively encouraged illegal immigration, leading to the crisis we are seeing right now.
In New York City alone, attracted by free hotels and healthcare, more than 100,000 migrants have passed through since spring 2022, and more than 58,000 remain in the city's care. Even Mayor Adams said, “We don’t have the capacity,” proving this crisis has blown past even their wildest open-border progressive dreams. In a 2023 Siena College Poll, 82% of New Yorkers say the recent influx of migrants is a serious problem, with more than 50% labeling it as a very serious problem.
If the sanctuary city policies aren’t reversed, that number will continue to balloon, costing taxpayers even more—all during a period of significant financial hardship and record inflation. While the principles of federalism prevent Congress from overriding those policies, Congress shouldn’t subsidize those self-defeating policies either. That is why I introduced H.R. 5717, the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act which would prohibit federal funding to address the migrant crisis in jurisdictions with sanctuary city policies.
President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas have demonstrably faltered in their duty to enforce federal border security and immigrant laws and have placed Americans at unnecessary risk. Regrettably, progressive figures like Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams have aligned themselves with their agendas, resulting in our nation teetering on the edge of both economic and national security crises. It is imperative that we swiftly alter our trajectory and steer the ship back on course, lest we perilously endanger the very essence of the country for which countless ancestors risked everything to legally inhabit.