1 - Increased violence in NYC

2 - Executive Action on the Crisis

3 - Federal Feud in Texas

4 - Hunger-ridden migrants and homelessness being rampant.

5 - Strain on economy

My interviewee was one of my close friends so I believe our close relationship should make him a relatively good source as he will not refrain from  saying what he believes. The interviewee generally went on the same route the entire interview as he saw that the economy was indeed being stressed due to excessive migration in concentrated amounts in cities, he acknowledged the dangers these families may have and the latter.

My personal opinion does not differ much from the interviewee as I believe that immigrants causing distress in cities is relatively impactful towards the economy and their own wellbeing.

As more and more people are entering the US without visas through cracks in the border the economy of various cities is taking a heavy strain to house all the migrants, these people seeking a better life sometimes cannot even find a place to sleep or food to eat. So it brings the question: Should immigrants negatively affecting the economy be deported? Contextually speaking this problem has been rising exponentially and has become a popular talking point in the 2024 elections. Throughout the paper it is most common that the federal crisis in Texas, the homeless migrant population, Biden’s shift in policy, surge in migrant crime, and the destabalization of the economic-livelihood sector of various major cities will be all discussed in thorough detail to explain the issue uncontrolled migration has on cities. It is my personal belief that uncontrolled migration causes varying amounts of stress on the economy and it should be dealt with in a humane manner that may include deportation.

Throughout the years migration has always been occurring throughout the years the United States has been in existence, in recent years illegal migration has been getting progressively more widespread than before with each year being a record, “Migrant encounters at the border have since reached historic highs” (Passel, Krogstad 2023). Cities now in present day are getting bombarded by buses upon buses of migrants whom they have to support with tax money, money that could be used on other sectors to help the residents, it is badly managed and presents a crisis. According to research from NYC about their capacity of housing migrants with their DHS it is only then when the Office of the Mayor decided to declare that “a state of emergency is hereby declared to exist within the City of New York based on the arrival of thousands of individuals and families seeking asylum” (Office of the Mayor, EEO224). As stated the City is presented with a grave economic crisis in the need of housing migrants. These are the root issues of the migrant crisis and what may occur if it is concentrated such as in NYC, the background of this crisis has been slowly creeping up to us due to rising instability in South America and other countries in the world.

Discussing on the basis of Biden’s policies throughout his presidency and near the 2024 elections, Biden has shown an expressive shift in his policies revolving around migration. In effective terminology throughout the early presidency he was more lax than as he is now incoming of the election. Beginning with Biden’s early expressions/policy it is important to note that Biden was thoroughly ignoring the issue at hand for as long as he could, “On President Biden’s first day in office, he paused nearly all deportations. He vowed to end the harsh practices of the Trump administration, show compassion toward those wishing to come to the United States and secure the southern border” (Shear, Youngs, 2024). The cited work provides an insight of what Biden’s early policies were. Joe Biden’s policies were heartwarming towards the migrant populace slowing down on deportation and allowing more opportunities for illegal migrants, most likely as stated to “end the harsh practices of the Trump administration” (IBID). Which would show why he did it but nonetheless it was a political view he most likely wished to accomplish but nonetheless played a large role in what the current situation has become and the reason why he is largely disliked by Republicans. Contrary to this belief in the present day he has completely back tracked on his previous policies and decided to push for executive action to end the crisis, or atleast prevent the worsening of it as elections roll by. This is seen clearly as Biden shifts views as discussed in Politico “The Biden administration is considering a string of new executive actions and federal regulations in an effort to curb migration at the U.S. southern border, according to three people familiar with the plans” (Ward, 2024). It expresses the vast contrast of political decisions by Biden due to the migrant crisis that clearly is causing enough trouble in the country for it to be striked down on by someone who had supported immigration for years and years.

In addition to the policy change, Biden is tasked once again with a federal feud in Texas, one where the Governor of Texas chose to declare a state of emergency and militarily shut down the border, although it has been branded as a “Civil War” it is not, but it is a clear symbol of the impending crisis uncontrolled immigration presents towards the country. In accordance to the citation they discuss the problems Texas is facing which are “right of self-defence,” implying that border states are facing an “invasion” and explicitly claiming that the Biden administration is refusing to protect Americans from “terrorists entering our country.” (Stroop, 2024). All these claims sound relatively biased to my understanding but it presents an actual issue as Gregg Abott has been under stress of his constituents according to his harsh sudden policies of migration is now choosing to block off the southern border with razor wire, which many Texans believe it is an invasion which is far from the case but nonetheless if its being labeled as an invasion it must mean it presents quite a problem to the country to the point harsh policies are taken in order to get reactions from the Biden administration, and as previously stated Biden did cave in. In addition to this many upon many states have pledged support of Texas’s actions in this feud which once again shows the impact and importance this has, it seems to be a protest towards the Federal government to help contain this crisis once and for all as “Republican governors of 25 other states, including Indiana, where I grew up, have signed a statement in support of Texas’s actions” (IBID). Half of the states in the United States have expressed support for Greg Abbotts actions in Texas and it is relatively concerning that it is the case. If the issues has support of hald the Union it must be something vastly different of a “small crisis”.

On the basis of migrant homelessness and crime it has been on a steady incline as the more migrants there are the less there will be to house them and the surging of violence as stress takes ahold and old habits are not changed. Migrant crime in NYC has increased exponentially as Abott in a hearing said “he will no longer tolerate migrant attacks against NYPD officers, warning that further incidents would result in a downgrade in migrant living accommodations” (Bee, 2024). The article in a very sarcastic way displays how lax Abott’s administration has become to the point where violence between migrants has ramped up it pokes fun at it and Abott has also expressed concern albeit in a rather awkward manner he has acknowledged the violence against NYPD caused by migrants who are allegedly ‘bored’ Police Comissioner later stated that  “A migrant crime wave is washing over our city,” (Cramer 2024). Which presents an issue and proof of rising migrant crime throughout a city going through a state of emergency due to increased migrations from bus loads of people inhumanely being transported from Texas, it presents an issue as it is violence that not only affects migrants but NYC residents and is precedent to what is happening in various other cities and states going through similar conditions. In addition towards crime ruining livelihood of residents many migrants are living in the streets with no amount of space in shelters as the space is steadily rising and in a recent executive order by the mayor was stated to be “61,000 individuals and is not designed to serve the influx of asylum seekes arriving to New York City from the Southern Border” (IBID). Which presents an issue as more and more city funds are being used up on housing and equally as much it is being filled up and many migrants are being forced to sadly live in the streets because there is not place to house them, it ruins the livelihood of both worlds as more budgets are placed into shelters other sectors are being affected as well as in the same executive order Abbott discusses the help departments need to assist with “I hereby direct New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) to coordinate with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation..” (IBID). He goes more into detail and highlights around 20 departments to help aid the migrant crisis, these are departments that will now divert resources and will lower the quality of whatever original product they work to achieve, ruining livelihoods. With shelters being filled to the brim no amount of aid will help the current migrants sleeping in the cold streets unable to receive shelter as it is truly the worst of both worlds.

On the contrary towards the possibility of a crisis the opposing side believes it is not a big crisis to worry about as expressed by Avi Chomsky “I don’t actually agree that there is a “border crisis.” There are multiple crises, both inside the U.S. and outside, and sometimes they become most visible to the media and the U.S. public on the border — but the border is only one node of the crises” (Polychroniou, 2023). Which discusses that the crisis is not as big as it is displayed as he furtherly goes on and discusses migrant crisis in other countries “The real crisis is what’s happening in countries like Haiti, Guatemala, Venezuela, and other places where long histories of colonial exploitation,” (IBID). Although it may be true I believe that Avi is exponentially wrong. To begin with the crisis in all those other countries is thoroughly connected to ours as they migrate towards the US for a better life, the more crisis there are the more immigrants arrive. This crisis is in fact real and has been created by the government as stated “the federal government is evading its responsibility for the migrants it allows in and hoping that cash-strapped cities will fill in the gap” (IBID). Showing clear signs of how federal misconceptions about what they were doing and the root cause of the issue that took a turn for the worse and now both citizens and migrants are suffering in affected cities like NYC or Chicago.

With all due respect and based upon the previous proofs throughout the paper it is only to a great extent that this crisis is indeed true and happening throughout various affected cities, it is true that the crisis has changed the policies of the Biden administration, causing issues in livelihood, causing feuds between states, and causing various crime surges throughout affected areas, it only becomes clear that something should be done to counter this impending crisis that looms over the US as various migrants are not only having no food to eat or a place to sleep, but funds being directed towards migrants and not residents are causing outrage and changes in livelihood. And as stated previously under personal belief it is utmost important that this issue be dealt with in a humane manner to a great extent.

Cramer, Maria, et al. “‘migrant Crime Wave’ Not Supported by Data, despite High-Profile Cases.” The New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/02/15/nyregion/migrants-crime-nyc.html. Accessed 08 Mar. 2024. 

GOV, NYC. “Emergency Executive Order 224.” NYC GOV, Office of the Mayor, 7 Oct. 2023, www.nyc.gov/assets/home/downloads/pdf/executive-orders/2022/eeo-224.pdf. Accessed 09 Mar. 2024.

PASSEL, JEFFREY S. “What We Know about Unauthorized Immigrants Living in the U.S.” PEW , PEW, 16 Nov. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/16/what-we-know-about-unauthorized-immigrants-living-in-the-us/. Accessed 08 Mar. 2024. 

Polychroniou, C.J., et al. “Talk of ‘Border Crisis’ Is Misleading. the Real Crisis Is US-Imposed Poverty.” Truthout, 21 Nov. 2023, truthout.org/articles/talk-of-border-crisis-is-misleading-the-real-crisis-is-us-imposed-poverty/. Accessed 08 Mar. 2024. 

Shear, Michael D. “How the Border Crisis Shattered Biden’s Immigration Hopes.” The New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/us/politics/biden-border-crisis-immigration.html. Accessed 08 Mar. 2024. 

Stroop, Chrissy. “Red States in the US Are Now Behaving like the Confederates.” openDemocracy, OpenDemocracy, 1 Feb. 2024, www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/usa-texas-greg-abbott-civil-war-confederates-biden/. Accessed 08 Mar. 2024. 

Ward, Myah. “Biden Considering Major New Executive Actions for Migrant Crisis ...” Politico, 21 Feb. 2024, www.politico.com/news/2024/02/21/biden-considering-major-new-executive-actions-for-southern-border-00142524. Accessed 09 Mar. 2024.