Mayor Johnson pleads for federal help as he sounds alarm on border crisis: Yet, he refuses to ask that the border be closed

 

in over his head

Social Links forRyan King
Published Dec. 27, 2023, 6:03 p.m. ET

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pleaded Wednesday for the federal government to take a bigger role in tackling the migrant crisis, warning that the Windy City and other parts of the US are being overwhelmed by new arrivals.

“Without real, significant investment from our federal government, it won’t just be the city of Chicago that won’t be able to maintain this mission,” Johnson told CNN.

“It’s the entire country that is now at stake.”

Johnson, 47, explained that he’s asked the Biden administration to set aside $15 billion worth of resources to address the issue.

Biden requested $13.6 billion for border security as part of a $106 billion supplemental aid package he unveiled in October that also included assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

Negotiations over that legislation are currently stalled in the Senate, with no vote in prospect until after the new year, if ever.
5Brandon Johnson became mayor of Chicago back in May. TNS

“We have roughly 15,000 people living in shelters, temporary shelters, here in Chicago,” Johnson explained. “Nearly 27 shelters total. And 4,500 children in our Chicago public schools system, providing health care, also making sure that we are screening individuals as they come through the city of Chicago, providing, again, on-site vaccinations at all of our shelters. And this certainly has been a remarkable challenge that my administration has had to face.”

In addition to more resources, Johnson said Wednesday more “coordination” was needed between cities, counties, states and the federal government.

“Since taking office, we’ve had an uncoordinated approach,” the mayor said. “And what I have worked to do, instead of having chaos, is provide some structure and calm around the situation. And without significant federal support, this is not sustainable.”
5Many migrants show up at the US-Mexico border and claim asylum before getting released onto US soil while awaiting a court date. Go Nakamura for NY Post

While Johnson did not mention President Biden, he did call out Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has dispatched busloads of migrants from border regions to so-called “sanctuary cities,” including Chicago, New York and Washington, DC.

“What Governor Abbott is doing is, quite frankly, it’s reckless,” the mayor said. “… We recognize that there are challenges, significant challenges at the border, and we do need real substantive immigration reform and policies that allow us to have a structure and a pathway to citizenship.

“But again, sending buses all over the state of Illinois and all over the country is reckless and, quite frankly, is dangerous.”
5Eric Adams has clashed with the Biden administration repeatedly on immigration. Paul Martinka

In contrast to Johnson, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has emerged as one of Biden’s loudest critics on the Democratic side over the migration surge.

“The federal government said to New York City: ‘We’re not going to do our job — you do our job. You take care of 4,000 people a week, Eric, you and your team,’” Adams lamented to reporters Tuesday.

“Those who should have been helping us in government — every step of the way, [they] just critiqued us,” the mayor added. “I’m not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel from the federal government.”
5President Biden’s approval rating on immigration has been underwater in a bevy of recent polls. AFP via Getty Images
5Thousands of migrants wait to be processed by the U.S. Border Patrol at a make-shift transit center after crossing the Rio Grande River into the US, days before Christmas. Go Nakamura for NY Post

Over the past year-and-a-half, more than 161,000 migrants have arrived in the Big Apple, according to city officials — including about 4,000 who arrived last week alone. More than 68,000 remain in city care, straining Gotham’s finances.

Since the start of September 2022, more than 20,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago, according to the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. This number is probably a lie, as the truth would fast become a political problem. The actual number is probably 250,000. 

All you have to do is take a ride around the city. During the day, they tend to hang in front of the locations they have been dumped. Drive down Halsted, Ogden, Stony Island, Jackson Blvd, Washington Blvd, 39th St., 63rd St., Ashland, This problem is out of control, yet most city leaders are mum.

During fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30, more than 2.47 million encounters with migrants were reported along the US-Mexico border. More than 242,000 asylum-seekers were apprehended in November alone, according to data from US Customs and Border Protection.