Nov. 18, 2023
By Jude McElroy
Editor
The United States is not new to migration as people from across the world have come to America to build a better life for themselves and escape difficult situations in their homelands.
Today, most migrants coming to the United States are from South America and the Caribbean, most notably from Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the reasons people from these nations are seeking asylum include gang violence, lack of economic opportunity and natural disasters.
Most of these asylum seekers are entering the United States through Texas, which led Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to insist that his state is overwhelmed and under-resourced. Therefore, beginning in August 2022, he instructed busloads of migrants to travel from Texas to New York.
According to the New York Post, the United States has taken in over 95,000 migrants in the last year, with over 60,000 being in New York City’s care, which is more than any city can handle.
If New Jersey opened some shelters to house the migrants who are sleeping on the streets in New York, it would help immensely.
Abbott is right that such an influx of migrants into Texas is unsustainable, but his approach to dealing with the issue is unfair to New York City.
In a survey conducted by Siena College in Loudonville, New York, the large majority of New Yorkers believe the migrant crisis will destroy the city. This statement is an exaggeration, but it could definitely cripple the city. That is exactly why New Jersey, as a neighboring state, should offer assistance. If New Jersey opened some shelters to house the migrants who are sleeping on the streets in New York, it would help immensely.
In August, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey could not house migrants in Atlantic City as President Joe Biden suggested. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed Atlantic City International Airport among 10 other sites, but Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said Atlantic County lacks the necessary economic resources.
By median income, it ranks 19th out of New Jersey’s 25 counties, according to Towncharts.com. However, there are counties in New Jersey that are financially equipped to assist migrants.
Counties like Bergen, Morris and Union are all among New Jersey’s 12 most prosperous counties. Due to their better economic standing and proximity to New York City, they would be good locations to temporarily house migrants. It should be up to each county to decide if it wants to take in migrants, but the ethical decision would be to do so.
Migrants deserve support, which is why the Garden State, with the federal government’s assistance, should step up to help. It will not be easy, but it is necessary and possible to help migrants, and fighting over whose responsibility it is will not make the problem any better.
