Volunteer State News

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is warning of the consequences of unregulated immigration policies.

"New York City Mayor Eric Adams is now seeking a suspension of the city's 'right to shelter' rule because it can't handle the influx of migrants," Blackburn said in a Wednesday Twitter post. "This is what happens when Joe Biden halts deportations, funds migrant flights, and ends Title 42."

Title 42, a federal COVID-19-era health policy that put restrictions on border crossing and allowed the U.S. to turn away migrants because of the increased risk to health and safety, expired in May of 2023; a recent CNN report said. This means that those seeking asylum in the U.S. can no longer be turned away at the border, which has led to a surge in migrants crossing the U.S. border in search of aid and shelter. The end of Title 42 means a return to Title 8, which has no limitations on turning away migrants for the health and safety of U.S. citizens but involves lengthy processing times and carries stiffer penalties for illegal crossings.

Sanctuary Cities, including Chicago and New York, have experienced an influx of migrants recently; the Chicago City Wire said on Wednesday. Before leaving office, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot sent a letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott demanding that he stop sending buses of migrants to Chicago as the city has run out of space and funding to humanely shelter them. Migrants are reportedly sleeping on the floors of police stations and being given expired food packs.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has taken steps to ease requirements for finding immediate housing for migrants and the homeless and put them in congregate shelters, a Wednesday CBS News report said. He and several of his senior staff are working to petition a judge to suspend the decades-old right-to-shelter requirement that demands the City provide shelter to anyone who needs it. Adams pointed out that the requirement was put in place in the early 1980’s when approximately only 2,500 people needed it. The City now faces finding shelter for more than 94,000 people, which is overwhelming the system.