Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss the crisis at the southern border as a record wave of migrants is pushing Texas to the brink. A small city in Wisconsin is appealing to the White House for help with the influx of approximately 1,000 migrants who have come in since 2022, with issues ranging from housing to crime affecting the small community.
City leaders of Whitewater, Wisconsin, have prepared a letter to President Biden, expressing their concerns over the rapid increase in the population of immigrants arriving from Nicaragua and Venezuela. The letter acknowledges that each individual has a different reason for coming to the United States, with some fleeing from a corrupt government and others seeking better opportunities to prosper. However, the city leaders emphasize that regardless of the individual situations, these people need resources like anyone else, and their arrival has put great strain on the community’s existing resources.
The letter, led by Police Chief Dan Meyer, highlights various challenges faced by the city, including communication barriers, transportation issues, housing shortages, and difficulties in identification. They note that there has been a significant increase in unlicensed drivers on the road and some migrants living in substandard conditions. Additionally, the letter mentions serious crimes linked to immigrants, such as the death of an infant child, multiple sexual assaults, and a kidnapping.
Despite these challenges, the city leaders recognize the value of the increasing diversity brought by this group to their community. However, they emphasize the need for additional resources to effectively support and integrate these immigrants. Specifically, they express a need for more staffing, particularly in the police department, as well as funding for programs aimed at improving the immigrants’ quality of life, including ride-share programs, affordable housing, and language courses. They propose direct funding or the creation of a grant opportunity that the city can apply for.
Whitewater’s Common Council members are currently signing the letter, after which it will be sent to President Biden and other national representatives. This appeal reflects the broader impact of the migrant crisis on communities across the country, with cities like New York City and Chicago also calling for federal assistance. The White House’s supplemental budget request includes $14 billion for border funding, including over $1.5 billion for aid to communities receiving migrants.
However, this request is facing opposition from Republicans who are demanding greater limits on asylum and the use of parole by the administration to release migrants into the interior. The month of December witnessed over 302,000 migrant encounters, breaking the record for the all-time monthly high.
The appeal from Whitewater, Wisconsin serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by communities and the need for comprehensive support from the federal government. As the migrant crisis continues to unfold, it is crucial for policymakers to address the immediate needs of these communities while also working towards long-term solutions.
